Bosses of Pizza Express have said they plan to permanently close 73 restaurants, impacting 1,100 members of staff, as part of a major restructuring plan.

The chain has formally launched a proposal to reduce its restaurant estate and rental cost base through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

What have bosses said?

UK & Ireland managing director Zoe Bowley said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic had led to some “incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term”.

She added: “Today we have confirmed that 73 of our pizzerias are proposed to close permanently.

“In most cases, there is another Pizza Express nearby, either already open or reopening soon, to welcome our customers."

What will happen to staff?

Zoe added: "Our focus is on our people whose jobs are impacted and we will be doing everything we can either to redeploy them or to support them in finding roles elsewhere.

“Hard as this process is, it will protect the jobs of over 9,000 of our colleagues and provide a strong footing for Pizza Express to meet future challenges and opportunities.”

Which branches will close?

The following restaurants have been earmarked for closure:

  • Aberdeen, Belmont St
  • Aylesbury
  • Barnstaple, Three Tuns
  • Biggleswade
  • Billericay
  • Birmingham, Corporation St
  • Birmingham, Mailbox
  • Bournemouth, Post Office Rd
  • Bramhall
  • Bristol, Berkeley Sq
  • Bristol, Regent St
  • Bromsgrove
  • Bruton Place
  • Charlotte St
  • Chippenham
  • Dalton Park
  • Darlington
  • Dudley, Merry Hill
  • Earls Court, Earls Ct Rd
  • Edinburgh, Holyrood
  • Formby
  • Fulham Palace Road
  • Glasgow, Princes Square
  • Glossop
  • Gosforth
  • Grantham
  • Halifax
  • Hampstead
  • Hatch End
  • Hereford
  • Heswall
  • Ipswich, Lloyds Ave
  • Leeds, Crown St
  • Leeds, Horsforth
  • Ludlow
  • Lymington
  • Melton Mowbray
  • Midhurst
  • Milton Keynes, Hub
  • Moseley
  • New Brighton
  • Newcastle
  • Newport, Isle of Wight
  • Newport, South Wales
  • Northallerton
  • Nottingham, Goosegate
  • O2 Finchley
  • Orpington
  • Oxford, Oxford Castle
  • Poole
  • Port Solent
  • Ramsgate
  • Reading, St Mary’s Butts
  • Scarborough
  • Sheffield, Devonshire St
  • Sheffield The Moor
  • Shirley
  • Southport, Old Bank
  • Stafford
  • Staines
  • Stoke
  • Stourbridge
  • Sudbury
  • Torquay
  • Uxbridge
  • Wakefield
  • Walsall
  • Wapping
  • Wardour St
  • Weston-super-Mare
  • Whiteley Village
  • Whitstable
  • Wrexham

What happens next?

The company said it would seek approval of the CVA proposals from its creditors by way of a virtual meeting on September 4.