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Vegan burger bar with celeb investors tanks on hygiene rating
Neat Burger, backed by F1 star Lewis Hamilton and actor Leonardo di Caprio, received a rating of just two out of five for food hygiene due to a ‘pest problem’.
Plant-based Neat Burger in Camden was rated just two out of five for food hygiene during a recent inspection in May. The branch is one of four in London, in which Lewis Hamilton and other big-name celebrities have invested cash.
At the restaurant chain’s 2019 opening Lewis Hamilton said: “I believe we need a healthier high street option that tastes amazing and offers something exciting to those who want to be meat-free every now and again.”
Hamilton himself has eaten a plant-based diet since 2017. He also launched an alcohol-free Tequila called Amave last year as part of his clean living ethos.
Hollywood royalty Leonardo di Caprio has also put money behind the Neat group, as has Japanese giant Softbank. In April 2022, di Caprio posted on Twitter (now X):
“Neat Burger’s pioneering approach to alternative proteins is a great example of the kind of solutions we need to disrupt our food system and make a real difference in reducing global emissions and I’m excited to support as an investor.”
di Caprio also has an equity stake in Champagne Telmont, having been impressed by the house’s green credentials.
Substantial losses
The Neat business originally opened as a chain of eight vegan fast food restaurants in London, but last year the company confirmed it was closing half of these locations following substantial losses. According to Companies House, the group made a loss of £7.9 million in 2022, following a £3.2m loss the year before.
In February 2024 it began the process of rebranding its London sites as simply ‘Neat’, with an emphasis on natural wholefoods and plant-based proteins. And despite the London closures, additional sites in Milan, New York, Dubai and Mumbai were added to the portfolio.
The recent hygiene report on the Camden branch detailed that “improvement was necessary”, and following the May inspection Neat has since implemented changes to bring its rating up to five.
A spokesman for the company said: “Following a reassessment, our branch received a five-star rating, reflecting our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene and safety.”