Pizza Express confirm Leith restaurant will close after landlord serves notice

A popular Pizza Express restaurant on The Shore is set to close, the company has announced, after the property’s landlord served it notice.

The news comes despite the fact that the Leith pizzeria was not among a list of Pizza Express’ planned closures.

The UK-based business approved a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in September that included the liquidation of a number of outlets to pay its creditors over a fixed period.

Contrary to recent press speculation, however, the restaurant building has not been placed on the market with Gilson Gray, despite the estate agents’ sign being placed outside the property.

A popular Pizza Express restaurant on The Shore is set to close, the company has announced, after the property’s landlord served them notice.

It is understood that the for sale sign is, in fact, advertising a two-bedroom flat on the third floor above the pizzeria, which is currently under offer.

In a statement, Pizza Express said: “Whilst our Leith pizzeria wasn’t included in our CVA which was approved in early September, the landlord has subsequently served us notice, which has sadly resulted in the closure of the restaurant.

“We’re doing everything we can to support our teams, and our customers are very welcome to join us at our other local restaurants in Ocean Terminal or North Bridge.”

The company closed all of its UK restaurants on March 23, 2020, after the Government-mandated lockdown, before starting a phased reopening of sites in June.

It said the coronavirus pandemic has been a "huge setback" for the restaurant sector, but insisted that its turnaround plan "will put the business on a stronger financial footing in the new socially distanced environment".

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