2 weeks Ago
The owner of a sandwich shop vying to be the borough's best puts their success down to the community's support. Lenny's Cafe in Little Lever has been shortlisted for Bolton's Best Sandwich Shop of 2025. Leon Boardman, 40, might originally be from Halliwell, but he and his cafe have been embraced by the community who voted for it as Bolton's best.
He said: "It shows we're doing something right! (Image: Newsquest) "A lot of hard work has gone into it and we had a full refurbishment just after Covid. "It's always been busy, but in the last two years it seems to be picking up." The sandwich shop's success has not been a one-man effort, however, and Leon put it down to the support of his wife, his two members of staff and the local community.
Lenny's Cafe is located in the Little Lever Market Hall (Image: Google Maps) He said: "I couldn't have done it without my family, the staff and without the people. "The customers are the most important, really, it's the support of them that keeps us going." Lenny's Cafe has also given back to the community in the past, donating food and drinks to be given to the homeless.
The sandwich shop specialises in a range of breakfast foods including omelettes, rotating specials and, of course, sandwiches. Specials in the past have included pork barms, chicken tikka fries and chicken souvlaki with halloumi flatbread. Leon said: "Specials from Monday to Friday can differ quite a bit, it's tough to think of new ones when we've been doing it for nine years!" Leon Boardman switched careers to open Lenny's Cafe (Image: Leon Boardman) Cooking has been Leon's passion since he started working.
He said: "I started off at Smithills Coaching House waiting tables and as soon as an opportunity to get in the kitchen came up – I took it." He spent three years working at Smithills before he left because of the unreasonable hours. READ MORE: Odessa in the running for Bolton's favourite sandwich shop READ MORE: Armstrong Bakery shortlisted for an award for its sandwiches READ MORE: Cowan's Butty Shop in Farnworth up for The Bolton News' award After 14 years as a dental technician, a stall in Little Lever Market Hall opened up, and Leon decided it was time to follow his dreams.
He said: "It was a big decision, leaving the dental job, but cheffing was something I've always wanted to get into. "I was so used to having weekends off!" Have a story? Get in touch at eoin.mccaul@newsquest.
co.uk Now that the sandwich shop has been shortlisted for the award, Leon hopes it continues to grow and see success. He said: "I'm just hoping to build on what we've got really – just to get bigger, better and stronger!".
