We need your help now
Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.
You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.
If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.
Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
By continuing, you are indicating that you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
LEON, A HEALTHY fast food chain, has announced that it is to open its first Irish outlet in Dublin’s Temple Bar.
The natural fast food outlet will be located on Crown Alley, in the building of the former Eager Beaver clothes shop.
The company plans to open 20 restaurants nationwide by 2023, creating 600 new jobs.
The Temple Bar branch is due to open this coming May.
The London-based chain plans to open its second outlet in Dundrum Town Centre later this year.
LEON’s food is based around the Mediterranean diet. The company said it will be working with local Irish suppliers to bring its menu to Ireland.
The restaurant group currently has 63 outlets worldwide in the UK, Norway, the Netherlands and the US.
Most recently, it opened its first US restaurant in Washington DC.
The people responsible for bringing LEON to Ireland are Stuart Fitzgerald, Alan O’Neill and Brian McIntyre.
“We are absolutely delighted to finally reveal that Ireland’s first LEON will be located at the former Eager Beaver shop in Temple Bar,” Fitzgerald said.
“Temple Bar is a melting pot of culture, creativity and individuality which makes it the perfect setting for LEON’s Irish launch.”
More information about LEON in Ireland can be found on its website here.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Soon all our main streets will be exact replicas of each other and we’ll start to resemble the cookie-cutter cities of the UK. DCC needs to start supporting small business owners and stop feeding the fat cats.
@Anonymous Education: There used to be a unique feel walking down streets of different cities, but thanks to global commercialism, the same shops appearing in every city on multiple streets, cities are losing their sense of individualism.
@Anonymous Education: so people complain when there aren’t jobs, then when a business opens and creates 600 jobs people complain because it’s not a small Irish business. You really can’t win
@Sam Harms: haven’t heard very many there’s no job complaints! The point on generic fast food places flooding what were once unique streets is valid
@Conor Heneghan: would you rather buildings remain vacant?
@Sam Harms: If they’re the only two options that you can see, then you need to try opening your mind.
Indigenous businesses should always be preferred to generic corporate entities. Authorities can affect this by various means.
@Adam Johnson: and then there’s the people who moan because Ireland doesn’t have a central plaza but every other European city does! People seem to like everything being the same!
@Battaz: but there aren’t enough indigenous businesses to take over all of the empty commercial properties. There are loads of empty retail/restaurant spaces near where I live that have been vacant for at least 2 years now.
Was a good film that.
@Decko Kelly: Yeah it was.
@Decko Kelly: No women, no children.
@Will Thompson: he was very sexist was me in. And ageist
Can’t wait not to go there to get ripped off
@Artur Gurta: Here’s their menu, prices seem to be a few pound more than UK McDonald’s for a simialr mount of food. Have to give them some credit for selling healthy food at a price similar or just above to other fast food chains.
https://leon.co/wp-content/uploads/LEON-SPRING-PAPER-MENU.pdf
Every second shop is a food outlet then you’ve the government whinging about being obese.. Enough is enough..
@TechBuzz Ireland: I suggest you have a look at their menu first.
@Dave O’Keeffe: Lentil masala. I’ll pass thanks.
@TechBuzz Ireland: Mediterranean Cuisine … healthy … but we shall wait and see and how much will a leaf do lettuce set ya back…
@Terry Cahill: the price is on the menu you don’t have to wait and see.
@Radioska: Sterling prices without Irish inflation…
@Battaz: Great for the bowels.
I wish they opened comments on the pr1ck who tortured those poor dogs. String him up!
Another hangout for the beardo-checkshirts or maybe the pseudo -blueshirts ….
We are being invaded by hordes arriving on our shores opening up franchise food outlets. We can’t cope! The country in bursting at its seems with mediocre culinary offerings and “trendy” furniture.
Let’s have a referendum to keep them out!
Nice to see a “healthy” fast food place open instead of the usual rubbish!
@Lyndsy Ní Éalaithe: yeah, but I don’t think a quinoa salad would cut it at 2am when all you want is taco chips
@Green Lentils: Ha ha true!
@Lyndsy Ní Éalaithe: If the coffee is as shite as the coffee in the Happy Pair, they can keep it.
Should this not be in Fora, or at least labelled ‘sponsored’? Who’s gonna believe it’s not!?
Let the trotts commence.
It’s very average stuff, cold mulsh in the guise of healthy living, so It’ll probably be huge here, and if its not who cares Stuart and the gang can dress up in some other venture they care little for in a bid to be millionaires.
How can they call pulped veggies and fruit smoothies healthy !!!.
They crush the enzymes out of it and instead of slow release sugars and fibres you are basically drinking lumpy coke.
This crap is poison to diabetics.
have your say