Councillors hoping to find new occupier for Pizza Express' 'prime site' in Stafford
Councillors have said will do all they can to find a new occupier for Pizza Express' "prime site" in Stafford after it closes.
The company, which currently has around 454 restaurants in the UK, said on Tuesday it has finalised a proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a company voluntary arrangement.
Councillor Frances Beatty, cabinet member for economic development and planning at Stafford Borough Council, said: “This will be a terribly worrying time for those employees of the company hearing this news. Unfortunately it appears the chain has been another victim of the impact of Covid-19.
"So many businesses and employers are having to make tough decisions – and in this case the company has said it has been made to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term.
"The restaurant is in a prime site in the heart of the town with an eating area outside overlooking the Market Square and this has proved extremely popular when events have taken place in the town – for example the international Ironman race - and hopefully will again when more activities are able to return to the centre of Stafford.
"Although we are still in challenging times we will be having discussions with the agents to make sure everything is done to find a new occupier for the building as soon as possible.
"We are also currently waiting to see if we are successful with a bid for around £25 million from central Government to take forward proposals to regenerate the north end of Stafford town centre.”
Others earmarked for closure are those in the Merry Hill shopping centre, Walsall and Stourbridge, Ludlow, Stoke, Bromsgrove, two in Birmingham – Corporation Street and Mailbox – and Wrexham.
It said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years.
It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the UK's uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable.
