Neat Burger Pulls Out of UK Market, Leaving Camden as Final Stop Before Closure

The rise of plant-based fast food in the UK appears to be hitting a plateau. Neat Burger, the vegan restaurant chain launched in 2019 with the backing of high-profile figures like Sir Lewis Hamilton and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, is set to close all of its remaining UK locations — marking the end of its British chapter.

The company, which once operated eight restaurants across London, has confirmed it will shut down its final UK site in Camden by the end of the month. This follows the closure of its Soho branch earlier in April, and could affect up to 150 employees across the chain.

In a brief statement, a Neat Burger spokesperson confirmed the decision:

“The business has taken the difficult decision to close its UK restaurants. We have no further comment at this time.”

The closure brings an end to what began as a bold attempt to transform the fast food landscape. With its first location opening in London in 2019, Neat Burger aimed to compete with major chains like McDonald’s and KFC by offering a fully plant-based menu. With Hamilton’s passion for clean eating and DiCaprio’s environmental advocacy, the venture had star power and sustainability at its core.

Early reactions to the concept were positive, with growing interest in vegan alternatives and a surge in plant-based dining around the same period. However, despite the initial excitement, Neat Burger faced challenges that became harder to overcome as the years went on — including shifting consumer habits, economic headwinds, and increased competition in the meat-free dining sector.

The company had already pulled out of the U.S. in 2023, closing its New York restaurant less than a year after opening. At the time, Neat Burger stated it was focusing on its most successful outlets to prepare for future growth.

“Sometimes taking a step back is necessary to make a bigger leap forward,” the company noted then.

With the departure from the UK market, Milan now remains the only active Neat Burger location — a quiet outpost for what once aimed to be a global force in sustainable fast food.

Whether this marks a temporary retreat or a permanent shift remains to be seen, but for now, Neat Burger’s flame in the UK has officially flickered out.