Uncertain times for Pret a Manger staff in Peterborough as closures announced

The food chain, which operates a sandwich shop in the Queensgate shopping centre with a frontage on Long Causeway, has announced it is to permanently close 30 of its stores nationally.

Bosses say the business has endured ‘significant operating losses’following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Details of which of the 30 of its 410 outlets are to close have not yet been released.

Consultation with staff will begin this week.

The closures will mean 1,000 jobs losses but the company has also warned the number of staff at its remaining outlets will have to be reduced.

The announcement is another headache for managers of the Queensgate Shopping Centre with uncertainty growing over whether retailing giant John Lewis will reopen its store in the centre, where it employs 390 staff.