ALL NEW SINGING LEON IN THE WEST END IS READY TO RAISE ITS CURTAIN
Naturally Fast Food chain LEON is ready to raise the curtain on its brand new, all singing restaurant in the West End on Monday 13th February.
Located on London’s iconic Shaftesbury Avenue, the new restaurant will serve the full LEON menu, from breakfast through to dinner and all the bits in-between but with a West End twist. In homage to their showbiz neighbours the team will not only serve, but sing for customers.
The forty-strong team come from all over the UK and are all ages and stages, but are united in their hope that performing at LEON will help propel them on to the West End stage and beyond. They were cast after impressing panels of seasoned professionals at auditions- Helen George (Call the Midwife), Alexander Armstrong (Armstrong and Miller), Anna Shaffer (Harry Potter) and Jay Aston (Eurovision winner with Bucks Fizz).
Co-founder of LEON John Vincent, who was also on the audition panel, said: “We did it! In just six weeks we auditioned, hired and trained a team who can both prepare the full range of LEON’s menu AND belt out a show tune or pop classic in between times. I’ve watched them perform both individually and as an ensemble – they gave me goose bumps. I’m biased as I’m from a household that LOVES musicals, but it’s going to be incredible – come and see for yourself.”
The cast comprises drama and musical theatre students (past and present) and others with no formal training but who secured a spot on the team when it became clear they had undiscovered talent. All have a range of personal favourite tracks; everything from Queen’s ‘Somebody to Love’ and Sinatra’s ‘That’s Life’ to West End classics like Les Miserables ’I Dreamed a dream’. Guests can expect a live track every two to three songs and can watch as team members switch from taking orders and making coffee to moving around the restaurant, performing live.
Cast members have all had professional head shots taken by Theatre Land photographer Manuel Harlan and these will fill the ‘Hall of Family’ picture gallery and populate the bespoke restaurant page online as part of plans to help promote the team members. LEON will also give team members professional vocal training, quarterly master classes to prepare for successful auditions and time off to attend auditions.
The restaurant decor reflects its Theatre Land surroundings. A deep red carpet will lead guests to the counter, the iconic LEON lady is draped in glitter and the walls will display pictures of members of the LEON family dressed for performances. A lift has been redesigned as a Royal Box, the seating is named the Stalls, there are posters in tribute to classic musicals and musical costumers, and memorabilia from existing LEON family members (employees).
LEON in the West End is located on Shaftesbury Avenue where the road meets Wardour Street, opposite the Queen’s Theatre. The restaurant will carry the full LEON menu including classics like the Moroccan meatball hotbox, the signature fish finger wrap, and the original super salad.
NOTES
Date: 13th February 2017
Venue: LEON, 62 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W1D 6LT
What: Restaurant opening
Who: Full team. The restaurant will be open to the general public for breakfast from 7am and then open all day until 10pm.
Asking the question: ‘Why can’t fast food be good food?’ John Vincent, Henry Dimbleby and Chef Allegra McEvedy founded Naturally Fast Food chain LEON in 2004. With a focus on seasonal, fresh and naturally fast food, the highly successful chain has made it not only possible, but easy, for people to eat well on the high street.
LEON’s first outlet opened on London’s Carnaby Street and six months after opening, LEON was named the ‘Best New Restaurant in Great Britain’ at The Observer Food Monthly Awards. There are currently 43 LEON stores (including one in Amsterdam) with plans to open many more worldwide.
