Lewis Hamilton’s Vegan Restaurant Chain Shuts Down in UK, 150 Jobs Affected
A business venture co-owned by Formula 1 icon Lewis Hamilton is coming to a close, as the final UK branches of the Neat Burger chain are set to shut their doors permanently, resulting in the loss of approximately 150 jobs.
Hamilton, who is known not just for his prowess on the track but also for his advocacy for plant-based living, launched Neat Burger in 2019 with backing from a host of celebrities including Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio. The chain set out with the mission to provide a healthier and more sustainable fast-food option, offering a menu made entirely from vegan ingredients. The concept initially garnered praise for its innovation and commitment to sustainability, but the brand has struggled to maintain profitability in recent years.
Financial challenges began surfacing in 2023, when the company reported significant losses that prompted a series of cost-cutting measures. One of the first major signs of trouble came with the closure of Neat Burger’s flagship New York City outlet last summer, a move that was seen as an attempt to stem the mounting financial pressures. Closer to home, the chain gradually reduced its presence across London, shutting down more than half of its original outlets over the past two years.
Now, according to a report by The Sun, the final two UK-based Neat Burger locations—Soho and Camden—are slated to be closed, with the latter set to shut its doors by the end of the month. A spokesperson for Neat Burger confirmed the news in a statement to GPFans, stating: “The board have taken the decision to close the UK corporately owned restaurants. Soho has closed, Camden closes at the end of the month.”
The decision marks a disappointing turn for a venture that once held great promise, not only for Hamilton but also for the plant-based food industry. The brand’s mission was aligned with Hamilton’s personal lifestyle shift—he adopted a vegan diet in 2017, which even extends to his pet bulldog, Roscoe. The F1 star has frequently spoken about the benefits of plant-based eating, both for personal health and for the environment, and Neat Burger was positioned as a natural extension of these values.
Despite the closures, Neat Burger still operates in other markets through franchise partnerships, but the shuttering of its UK corporate sites is a significant blow. The loss of 150 jobs will also deeply affect staff members who were part of the ambitious journey to revolutionize high-street fast food.
This development adds to what has already been a challenging year for Hamilton. His much-anticipated debut season with Ferrari has yet to yield the results fans hoped for. Currently, he sits seventh in the 2025 Formula 1 drivers’ standings, and the team has been struggling to deliver a consistently competitive car.
The closing of Neat Burger’s UK restaurants not only represents a setback for Hamilton’s off-track ambitions but also underscores the difficulty of sustaining growth in the competitive and evolving world of hospitality, especially in the niche but growing vegan sector.
