Henry Dimbleby MBE, John Vincent, and Allegra McEvedy launched Leon restaurants in 2004; it was so successful that it won Best New Restaurant at the 2005 Observer Food Awards. Leon now has over 30 restaurants throughout the UK with plans to open more.
As well as his restaurant career, Henry is passionate about creating a fairer and more sustainable environment for the hospitality industry. In 2009 he launched the Sustainable Restaurant Association. The SRA assesses behaviour, measures action and celebrates progress. It connects businesses around the world to accelerate change towards a hospitality sector that is socially progressive and environmentally restorative.
In 2014, Henry published the School Food Plan, an independent review for government written with John Vincent. Among other things, it led directly to the introduction of Universal Free School meals for all infants and cookery lessons for all children up to the age of 14. He was awarded an MBE the following year for his work on improving school food.
In 2018, he founded Chefs in Schools with former Ottolenghi chef Nicola Pisani and Hackney headteacher Louise Nichols. The charity recruits restaurant chefs to work in schools, improving both school lunches and food education.
Then in 2020 he published the National Food Strategy, an independent review of the food system for the government. This directly led to the country-wide roll out of the Holiday Activity and Food programme, and an increase of Healthy Start vouchers which provide free fruit and vegetables to less affluent families with young children.
After selling Leon in 2021, Henry launched Bramble Partners, an investment and advisory firm that allocates capital and knowledge to accelerate the transition to a healthier and more sustainable food system.
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Henry Dimbleby | Books
Henry is the author and co-author of several bestselling books, including:
– Naturally Fast Food (2010)
– Leon: Baking and Puddings (2011)
– Leon: Fast Vegetarian (2014)
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In 2023, he published Ravenous: How to Get Ourselves and Our Planet into Shape. The Sunday Times bestseller won the Andre Simon Food Book Award 2023 and was shortlisted for the Guild of Food Writers Awards 2024.
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Henry Dimbleby | Speaker
Henry is now a highly sought-after speaker at conferences and to company boards, covering topics including:
Creating a Purpose-Led Business: Drawing on Leon’s war stories and expansion from one site in Carnaby Street to a £100 million business.
Creating a Better Food System: Drawing on The National Food Strategy.
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Other speaking topics include:
– Food Policy
– Hospitality Industry
– Sustainability
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To check fees and availability for Henry Dimbleby MBE, contact Great Business Speakers on 0044 (0)1753 439289
