Pizza Express plans to axe around 75 restaurants, risking thousands of jobs

Popular pizzeria is thought to employ around 8,000 people across 490 sites in the UK.
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Restaurant chain Pizza Express, which has nine eateries in Edinburgh, is reportedly planning to close around 75 sites across the UK as part of a rescue deal that could put thousands of jobs at risk.

The group is working on a restructuring plan to weather the Covid-19 pandemic, and is set to hold talks with landlords to shed hard-hit eateries and slash rents, according to Sky News.

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It is understood the final number of its 490 UK and Ireland restaurants under threat of closure will depend on these talks as part of the so-called company voluntary arrangement (CVA).

Pizza Express could close up to 75 of its restaurants across the UK.Pizza Express could close up to 75 of its restaurants across the UK.
Pizza Express could close up to 75 of its restaurants across the UK.

Pizza Express also has sites overseas and is thought to employ around 8,000 people in the UK.

Restaurants have been hit hard by the coronavirus lockdown, with a raft having announced closures and jobs losses in recent weeks after seeing sales decimated.

Frankie and Benny's owner The Restaurant Group put up to 3,000 jobs on the line after announcing it was going to close 125 sites, and Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge owner Casual Dining Group said it would close 91 restaurants after calling in administrators.

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It is thought Pizza Express is also working on a wider restructuring that could see the group taken over by its lenders as part of a debt-for-equity swap.

The group is in negotiations that may see Chinese private equity owner Hony Capital hand control of the UK arm to bondholders, according to reports late on Wednesday.

Pizza Express declined to comment.

The chain – which was founded in 1965 – was bought by Hony Capital for £900 million in 2014.

It was previously owned by the Gondola Group, which also owned Zizzi and ASK Italian, before offloading those chains in the same year.

Hony Capital was not immediately available for comment.

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