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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:
inwood · 07/10/2019 14:05

I ate way to many PE meals when they first brought out those vouchers. Can't face it now. There are too many restaurants and i would hazard a guess too many families spending a couple of hours in there at hte weekend not spending much £££.

JeanMichelBisquiat · 07/10/2019 14:05

I'm with all the other people who find it really, really good for my DC's multiple allergies :-(

And yes, the food is only a bit north of mediocre (particularly the gluten-free pizza bases), but our branch is in a truly beautiful building, and the service is fantastic. For all the snobbery compared with places like Franco Manca, I've just had a look at their menu and it looks like all the bread dishes and pizza bases contain soya - so not exactly as artisinal and unprocessed as you might hope!

Mermaidtissues · 07/10/2019 14:06

Damn it, I’ve tried my best and eaten as many Pollo salads as I can

Waspnest · 07/10/2019 14:06

The popularity of Frankie and Benny baffles me. I'd rather go to McDonalds.

PancakeAndKeith · 07/10/2019 14:07

Can I blame the tories?

Yes. I blame them for everything.

SwedishEdith · 07/10/2019 14:08

I'll be so pissed off about this. It the most reliable place when working away to be able to go alone to get a good dinner within budget. Plus, they'll leave huge gaping holes on lots of high streets. How many jobs are at risk?

Gruzinkerbell1 · 07/10/2019 14:08

Yes @Waspnest! I’ve never understood the appeal of F&B.

PurpleGoose · 07/10/2019 14:10

Nooo, hope it's not true. Pizza Express is one of the few places myself and my children can eat easily (multiple allergies).

user1497207191 · 07/10/2019 14:11

The popularity of Frankie and Benny baffles me. I'd rather go to McDonalds.

F&B used to be a LOT better. For us, their menu was better, and we always found the staff to be good too. It's deteriorated over the years, particularly the staffing. The last time we went, they let us sit down, order drinks etc., and only when we came to order did they say they had no steaks - none at all. They were most put out when we got up to leave and refused to pay for the drinks we hadn't even touched. How can a restaurant not have any steaks when they're on the menu? More like they only had a "ping" kitchen assistant who couldn't do anything more than microwave frozen meals, and cook pizzas and chips.

jennymanara · 07/10/2019 14:13

Interesting it is mainly people saying their kids like it. Its tough for any restaurant to survive on the basis of appealing to kids.

HugsAreMyDrugs · 07/10/2019 14:13

How can a restaurant not have any steaks when they're on the menu?

Because sometimes kitchens run out of things?

SwedishEdith · 07/10/2019 14:14

The pizzas in the restaurants are way nicer than the supermarket one.

JemSynergy · 07/10/2019 14:15

My kids do love Pizza Express though and they do good pizza parties for children. However, the food has gone so downhill. I used to love their bruschetta's but they are just horrible and tasteless now with a bumped up price.

megletthesecond · 07/10/2019 14:15

PE are great with allergies and gluten free food.

Evilmorty · 07/10/2019 14:17

They probably didn’t have any steaks because it’s the only thing they cook fresh. Maybe they missed a delivery. The rest is all frozen and can be kept for ages.

Evilmorty · 07/10/2019 14:19

Pizza Express supermarket pizzas are not the same either btw. The dough is fresh in the restaurant and not a pre-baked base. I’m not a huge fan but let’s be fair to them on that point.

Hadenoughofitall441 · 07/10/2019 14:19

Apart from the fact people will lose thier jobs otherwise couldn’t care less as thier pizza taste like crap.

SweetPeaPods · 07/10/2019 14:20

We have a table booked for Saturday night. May have to keep my options open

higgyhog · 07/10/2019 14:20

DH and i love Pizza Express, as a vegetarian and a coeliac we are difficult to feed in most places. It can be expensive though, DH paid £30 for a pizza, glass of wine and some olives last week (including tip)

shearwater · 07/10/2019 14:21

i loads of good independent pizza places have passed it out.

No they haven't. There are tons of restaurants where I live and not one of them is an independent Italian restaurant.

user1497207191 · 07/10/2019 14:21

They probably didn’t have any steaks because it’s the only thing they cook fresh.

That's fair enough, but they should tell you BEFORE you sit down, order drinks, etc., and not get uppity when you stand up and leave. It was THEIR problem, and they who didn't handle it well.

Compare that with a rather greasy pub we went to - there was a sign on the door that their chef was absent and the menu was limited - if you can't deliver several menu items, you need to tell customers at the earliest opportunity.

RaymondStopThat · 07/10/2019 14:21

That would be so sad for the staff Sad

Abut 25 years ago, we had a fantastic local Pizza Express, and when one of the DC had a bizarre passion for olives, as soon as she was plonked in her high chair, the staff would bring her a free bowl of olives. The pizzas were really good back then, and Pizza Express was considered quite upmarket in the pizza world. Guess that changed with the huge expansion.

Ursaminor · 07/10/2019 14:24

I have had a look at the latest financial statements, to the year ended 31st December 2018:
They made losses of just over £40m in the year ended 2017, and about £56m in the year ended 2018. So - losses are increasing.

They are paying about £90m a year in financing costs.

They have about £1.1b debt, which needs to be repaid / renegotiated over the next few years (£465m by Aug 2021 / £200m by Aug 2022 / £467m by Aug 2024), and there is a £20m group Revolving Credit Facility, which was undrawn at Dec 2018, which is "readily available" until August 2020. How much of that is left is anyone's guess.

You can draw your own conclusions, especially in light of all the previous posters' comments, which don't lead me to believe that things are turning around out there.

Evilmorty · 07/10/2019 14:25

They also probably only very rarely get people who come in for steak....

VeganCow · 07/10/2019 14:25

@1066vegan yes it looks great especially the calzone, I saw it on vegan food uk who did a review of it

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