Set over two floors with over 130 seats, the Oxford restaurant will be the most family-friendly in the chain, with a dedicated play area, children’s library (stocked with books from the local Oxfam) and a buggy park.
One of LEON’s aims is to be kind to the planet and they will use the Oxford outlet to debut a brand new, bespoke waste recycling station for customers. Earlier this year they announced a 100% renewable energy deal with Oxford-based provider Opus.
The décor of the new restaurant will include an original paper cut by artist Helen Musselwhite which celebrates the LEON coffee story, from bean to cup. The piece shows the fair trade, organic, World Land Trust certified beans, which have helped save over 185 acres of rainforest so far. It also includes one of the chain’s new biodegradable, compostable and recyclable cups with recyclable sleeves.
The Musselwhite pieces will be joined by portraits of LEON suppliers, taken by Harry Borden, former winner of the World Press Photo Awards, who has exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery.
The menu in Oxford will include the full LEON Christmas menu, with their own Christmas turkey, ham hock and stuffing wrap, and a turkey curry, pistachio and pomegranate sprout salad and mince pie, developed in collaboration with professional chef, food writer and TV presenter, Gizzi Erskine.
They will also add two vegetarian options to the breakfast menu – a halloumi muffin and veggie egg pot, with grilled halloumi, mushroom, saucy beans and freshly chopped parsley.
But guests will also have the opportunity to try dishes that have been on the menu since the first LEON opened in London’s Carnaby Street in 2004 ...such as the Moroccan meatball hotbox, the signature fish finger wrap, and the original super salad.
The opening of the Oxford store will take the total number of LEONs to 42, and to celebrate the chain will be cycling around the city handing out vouchers for free goodies. They’ll also be rewarding fellow cyclists with free coffee vouchers.
John Vincent, CEO of LEON said: “At LEON we make naturally fast food that tastes good, does you good and is kind to the planet. We’re fast food, but fast food in heaven.
“Oxford is a city where you study, work and play hard. We want to be there where and when you need us so you can get on with all of that. And we’ll get on with loading the dishwasher.
“This will be one of our biggest, most family-friendly sites. At LEON family means everything to us. So come and take a seat at the dinner table.”
The new store has created 30 jobs in the area and will provide seating for 136 guests at a time. It will open from 7am to 10pm Monday to Saturday and 8am to 9pm.
The store will offer delivery via Deliveroo and as with other LEON stores it will offer a 15% discount to students and NHS staff.