Burger chain McDonald's is on the move in Oxford city centre.

The American fast food giant is to launch a new restaurant in Cornmarket in the unit previously occupied by health food diner Leon.

The Leon chain sells "nutritional fast food", has about 70 outlets in the UK, and opened its Cornmarket Street branch in 2016.

READ MORE: Village pub near Oxford still closed due to cost of living 

Contractors working on site confirmed McDonald's has taken over the Leon unit and a member of staff said work was now taking place to redesign the interior. 

The contractor added: "McDonald's will be opening here but it's not for a while - it could be January before it is ready to open."

A member of staff at McDonald's near Carfax said its restaurant was expected to close once the new one opened in the same street.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) He added: "We haven't been told anything officially but the managers are all saying we will shut here once the new one opens."

The existing McDonald's restaurant in Cornmarket does have upstairs seating, but it is mostly standing room only downstairs and the former Leon site appears to be a larger unit.

As recently as March Leon applied to the city council for longer opening hours, so it could open from 6am to 3am seven days a week.

Planning consultant Planware said in the application: "The proposal seeks greater flexibility of operating hours within the city centre location.

"Other existing similar operators have far greater flexibility, such as McDonald’s from 6am to 3am and Kebab King open until 4am, as examples.

READ MORE: Oxford grinds to a halt due to roadworks 

"It is therefore proposed for the opening hours to be 6am to 3am to reflect similar premises.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) "Late night opening would be subject to a licence, in line with the Licencing Act 2003."

The application also requested a change of use from mixed use retail and restaurant or cafe to commercial, business and service, and or hot food takeaway, which may have been a sign that the chain was preparing to leave.

The planning consultant added at the time: "The proposal seeks to provide greater flexibility within the use class to re-let the unit.

"This will provide a broader range of potential uses, adding to the retail and leisure offering within the city centre."

Leon opened in late 2016 on the site of the former HMV store.

It created 30 jobs and provided seating for 136 customers.

(Image: Andy Ffrench) Leon's fast food dishes are based on the Mediterranean diet, and is full of plants, fresh herbs, spices and fats from olive oil, seeds and nuts and well-sourced meat.

When Leon opened in Oxford in 2016 chief executive officer John Vincent said at the time: "We make naturally fast food that tastes good, does you good and is kind to the planet.

"Oxford is a city where you study, work and play hard.

"We want to be there when you need us so you can get on with all of that.

"This will be one of our biggest, most family-friendly sites."

McDonald's has been asked for further comment.

Help support trusted local news 

Sign up for a digital subscription now: oxfordmail.co.uk/subscribe 

As a digital subscriber you will get:      

  •       
  • Unlimited access to the Oxford Mail website   
  •       
  • Advert-light access       
  •       
  • Reader rewards       
  •       
  • Full access to our app 

About the author 

Andy is the Trade and Tourism reporter for the Oxford Mail and you can sign up to his newsletters for free here. 

He joined the team more than 20 years ago and he covers community news across Oxfordshire.

His Trade and Tourism newsletter is released every Saturday morning. 

You can also read his weekly Traffic and Transport newsletter.