Staff in Peterborough face anxious wait as Pizza Exprees announces closures

Staff at Peterborough’s Pizza Express restaurant are waiting to hear whether the city’s restaurant is affected by the company’s plans to permanently close 67 sites announced today (August 4).

By Mark Edwards

Published 4th Aug 2020, 10:36 BST

Pizza Express in Peterborough city centre EMN-171201-153814001

Up to 1,100 jobs are at risk at Pizza Express’s restaurants in the UK as it plans to close around 67 of its sites.

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 15per cent of its 449 restaurants in the UK, affecting 1,100 staff.

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.”

More as we have it

Pizza Express Peterborough

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