Pizza Hut has announced the closure of 68 of its UK restaurants following the company’s recent move into administration. The closures, part of a restructuring process, will impact over 1,200 workers who now face redundancy.
What Happened
The UK-based arm of Pizza Hut, run by DC London Pie, appointed administrators from FTI Corporate Finance on Monday after the business fell into financial distress. The closures include several restaurants across the West and East Midlands, as well as other locations throughout the UK.
Notably, locations set to close in the West Midlands include Dudley, Kidderminster, Solihull, Shrewsbury, Rugby, Coventry north and west, Hereford, and Stratford Upon Avon. In the East Midlands, restaurants in Kettering, Wellingborough, and Northamptonshire will also be affected.
Details of the Closures
The closures span various regions across the UK, with additional sites impacted in:
- Ashton, Lancashire
- Beckton, London
- Bolton, Lancashire
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Bradford, West Yorkshire
- Brighton, East Sussex
- Bristol, Avon
- Cardiff, South Glamorgan
- Carlisle, Cumbria
- Chatham, Kent
- Clacton, Essex
- Crawley, West Sussex
- Croydon, Surrey
- Dundee, Scotland
- Durham, County Durham
- Eastbourne, East Sussex
- Edinburgh (multiple locations)
- Enfield, Middlesex
- Feltham, Middlesex
- Finchley, London
- Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
- Greenwich, London
- Grimsby, Lincolnshire
- Huddersfield, West Yorkshire
- Hull, East Yorkshire
- Inverness, Scotland
- Lancaster, Lancashire
- Leeds (multiple locations)
- Liverpool, Merseyside
- Manchester, Lancashire
- Middlesbrough, Cleveland
- Norwich, Norfolk
- Oldham, Lancashire
- Portsmouth, Hampshire
- Reading, Berkshire
- Rochdale, Lancashire
- Romford, Essex
- Russell Square, London
- Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire
- Shrewsbury, Shropshire
- St Helens, Merseyside
- Thanet, Kent
- Truro, Cornwall
- Wigan, Lancashire
In addition, several delivery-only locations are impacted, including:
- Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire
- Bletchley, Milton Keynes
- Dunstable, Bedfordshire
- Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire
- Luton, Bedfordshire
- Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
- Uxbridge, Middlesex
- Wolverton, Milton Keynes
The Restructure and Takeover
This restructuring follows a difficult year for the business, as the company was rescued from insolvency less than a year ago. However, in a turn of events, American hospitality giant Yum! Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut franchise, has acquired the UK arm of the business in a pre-pack administration deal, saving 64 locations from closure.
Impact on Workers
The closure of these 68 sites has put 1,210 employees at risk of redundancy. The company is now working to support the affected staff members, with many facing an uncertain future.
Moving Forward
As part of the restructuring efforts, the UK Pizza Hut locations that remain open are being transitioned under new ownership. Despite the closures, Yum! Brands has expressed commitment to maintaining a strong presence in the UK and ensuring continued operation of the remaining outlets.
Closing Line
This story may be updated with further details as the restructuring process continues.
