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Original poster

Pizza Express about to go into adminstration?

252 replies

QuimJongUn · 07/10/2019 12:29

I've seen people talking about this on social media but can't find anything about it online. Anyone heard anything/got any links?

It's daft but I've got a real fondness for the place especially with money off from Clubcard vouchers

OP posts:
LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 10/10/2019 15:15

Wozzat?

mammabearandhercubs · 11/10/2019 15:19

@MountainPeakGeek 😂 classy!!

mammabearandhercubs · 11/10/2019 15:19

I've never eaten there and neither have the dc. It's all unhealthy junk food.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 11/10/2019 15:22

It sounds like a MN acronym

Nah, it would have been DPex in that case.

putheronys · 11/10/2019 15:34

I've never eaten there and neither have the dc. It's all unhealthy junk food.

Ffs no it's not. Do you not eat anywhere then unless it's 100% healthy?

PralineCookie · 11/10/2019 15:54

I've never eaten there and neither have the dc. It's all unhealthy junk food

Would you like your medal now or should I post it?

Ellabella989 · 11/10/2019 16:00

Last time I went I had a risotto thing for starter and then a big superfood salad with quinoa, chicken, veggies and seeds. It’s not all junk food FFS.
They also do miniature sizes of their desserts so people can just have a morsel of something sweet. When I go I usually do have a large pizza and cheesecake but it’s also a good place to go for healthier options too

Astrabees · 11/10/2019 16:39

I usually have one of the Pizzas with a hole in the middle full of salad, and I've had the superfood salad in the past. it certainly isn't all junk food. It is also one of the few places my coeliac DH can get a decent pizza.

bruffin · 11/10/2019 18:49

They used to do a lovely hearty salad with new potatoes , chicken etc but that disappeared from the menu.

TapDanceJazzHands · 11/10/2019 19:50

They're in £1Bn debt. It's ridiculous. I cannot fathom how it got to this incredible sum. Surely something needed to happen before now?

I will also miss their food. No one else does dough balls like them 😢

mammabearandhercubs · 11/10/2019 20:55

It's a fast food joint. You don't get healthy food at a fast food joint.

sorebumcheeks · 11/10/2019 23:00

I've been told it's not a billion they owe as half of that is from their parent company, still 500 million is not a tiny amount is it! And apparently they have loads of time to pay it back. From what I've heard they're not going anywhere, just finding ways to pay the debt. They actually do well takings wise.

which1 · 11/10/2019 23:07

Links of London yesterday too.

So many well known brands.

A good handful every year I'd say.

user1497207191 · 12/10/2019 06:55

They actually do well takings wise

Lots of loss making firms have good sales. It doesn't mean a thing if expenses are higher, hence a loss.

Turnover is vanity - profit is sanity!

user1497207191 · 12/10/2019 06:57

A good handful every year I'd say.

As it always is, and has been for decades. Large firms fell in Labour's illusionary boom years too. Changes in customer demand, market disruption from new entrants, technology, poor labour relations, poor management etc causes firms to go to the wall year in year out, decade after decade, century after century.

meridaofthefabulousredhair · 12/10/2019 07:25

I don't know anybody who can afford to eat out as a family so I'm not surprised they are going bust.

bumblingbovine49 · 12/10/2019 07:32

The food at pizza express has always been quite good I find. The pizza are not bad at all. Frankie and Benny's however are just terrble near us.

Trewser · 12/10/2019 07:38

I took two dcs there a few.weeks ago. Had no vouchers, didn't know they were a thing. It cost more than our local restaurant, recently mentioned in the good food guide as the best in our county. It was utterly, utterly mediocre and the service was slow and poor. The whole experience was depressing.

Obviouspretzel · 12/10/2019 08:58

The toppings are nice but the base is crap. Floppy and underdone. Shame to see it fail but not surprising. Very tough market and the new players in it are a level above in terms of the offering, food and experience wise.

SwedishEdith · 12/10/2019 11:49

The toppings are nice but the base is crap.

I only ever have the Romano bases - love them.

fruitinaheapisnotabirthdaycake · 13/10/2019 09:03

I did read that they owe about £1m PER restaurant.

I like pizza but just buy it from my local Asda. I cannot be bothered to make it

I have never been to pizza express and neither have the dc. They are not missing much really

Teateaandmoretea · 13/10/2019 09:58

Pizza express would be £60+ for a so so meal. I don't mind spending more if we are going 'out' for dinner but for what I see as somewhere to stop for a quick lunch while out shopping they are charging too much for mediocre food.

No one pays full price surely? I only ever go for bog off or Tesco Clubcard. I suspect that is the real issue....

SwedishEdith · 13/10/2019 10:12

The offers only work if you're very disciplined. Lots are - I see people just have a pizza and a glass of water. But, as a family of 4, if we go for a birthday, we usually have the dough balls/garlic bread plus the pizzas (always Romano bases so extra ££s) and puddings, bottle of wine/2 x soft drinks. Even with vouchers, it's still about £60 - £70. But, I think £15 per head isn't bad for quite a lot of food and wine for a celebration.

No-one is missing out by not going but a freshly made pizza is so much nicer than supermarket one.

Teateaandmoretea · 13/10/2019 10:20

With Tesco clubcard for 4 of us it can cost under £40 easily including us ordering what we want, the cost of the vouchers and drinks (which you have to pay for). You can use them on Saturday night, only restrictions are some branches.

If I have to pay full price I'll go elsewhere. I suspect people like me aren't helping them.

LookImAHooman · 13/10/2019 10:21

It's a fast food joint. You don't get healthy food at a fast food joint.

Hmm Given that by your own admission you’ve never been there, what exactly are you basing this on? Especially after posts upthread. Are you actually thinking of the right chain? I’m not going to argue that everything is healthy there but your attitude is weird.