Birmingham Restaurant Chain Founder Slams Government Over Hospitality 'Killing'
The founder of a popular restaurant chain with a prominent branch in Birmingham has launched a scathing attack on the government, claiming current policies are "killing" the hospitality industry and declaring the situation "not f***ing okay."
Entrepreneur's Fiery Podcast Comments
John Vincent, co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain, made the explosive comments during an appearance on the Building The Brand with James Burtt podcast. Vincent, whose chain operates a location at Birmingham New Street station, directly criticized Chancellor Rachel Reeves, stating she "doesn't know what she is doing" when it comes to economic policy affecting businesses.
The Tax Burden Argument
Vincent presented a detailed breakdown of the financial pressures facing hospitality businesses, revealing that the government takes 36p from every pound his company earns. From this reduced revenue, businesses must then cover all other operational costs including goods, labor, rent, and additional expenses.
"This is why ASDA couldn't run Leon," Vincent explained, referencing the supermarket giant's brief ownership of his chain. "It's not the market. It's the non-market related upward-only rent and non-market related taxation that you read about killing the high street."
Impact on Long-Term Businesses
The entrepreneur painted an emotional picture of the consequences of current policies, describing business owners who have built enterprises over decades now facing administration.
"When people are in tears who have built a business over 30 years - and they are in tears because they are going into administration - it's not the market," Vincent stated. "It's the government and landlords owned by big institutions who want to kill mom-and-pop operations."
Broader Industry Concerns
Vincent expanded his criticism to include broader leadership concerns, suggesting the current political climate is driving talent abroad.
"We've got a Prime Minister that seems to not like commerce, we've got a chancellor that doesn't know what they're doing," he claimed. "It's killing the industry, and that's why when you ring someone up, they say they've moved to Dubai or Portugal."
The entrepreneur concluded with a passionate call to action: "It's not f***ing okay and we've got to sort it out."
Leon's Recent History
Vincent's comments come against the backdrop of Leon's own turbulent recent history. The entrepreneur bought back his restaurant chain from ASDA in October 2025, having originally sold it in 2021. The chain subsequently entered administration just two months later, resulting in the closure of 22 sites and the loss of 244 jobs.
Vincent has previously attributed these difficulties to "increasingly unsustainable taxes," a theme he revisited in his recent podcast appearance. The Leon brand, known for its burgers, rice boxes, and wraps, continues to operate its Birmingham New Street station location despite these challenges.
