Sixty-seven Pizza Express restaurants to close across Britain with up to 1,100 jobs at risk
Pizza Express has said it could close around 67 of its UK restaurants, with up to 1,100 jobs at risk, as part of a major restructuring plan.
The chain said it is planning to launch a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in the ‘near future’ in a bid to push down its rents amid a ‘significantly more challenging environment’ after the coronavirus pandemic.
The outcome has ‘yet to be decided’, Pizza Express said, but it may end in the closure of around 15 per cent of its 449 restaurants in the UK, affecting 1,100 staff.
Pizza Express has said it could close around 67 of its UK restaurants (file picture from 2019)
The company added: ‘This decision is a very difficult one; however, against the current unprecedented backdrop, Pizza Express believes reducing the size of its estate will help it to protect 9,000 jobs.’
The news was revealed on the second day of Chancellor Rishi Sunak’s Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which Pizza Express has signed up to, giving diners 50 per cent off meals out on Mondays to Wednesdays throughout August.
Pizza Express also said it had put itself up for sale after bringing in experts. The sale will be run independently to its other plans and was started today, it revealed.
Separately, it announced plans to sell its business in mainland China and has brought in restructuring experts to help deal with its £735million debts.
UK and Ireland managing director Zoe Bowley said: ‘While the financial restructuring is a positive step forward, at the same time we have had to make some really tough decisions.
‘As a result, it is with a heavy heart that we expect to permanently close a proportion of our restaurants, losing valued team members in the process.
‘This is incredibly sad for our PizzaExpress family and we will do everything we can to support our teams at this time.
‘As we continue to reopen our restaurants for dine-in and delivery, we will successfully navigate the extended period of social distancing expected in the months ahead and, in so doing, protect 9,000 jobs.
‘The initial signs from the restaurants that have been reopened have been very encouraging and we hope that our loyal customers continue to support us now more than ever.’