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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:
Isthatrightaye · 07/10/2019 15:52

So many nicer smaller chains and independents now for places like this to survive.

Pizza Hut has absolutely gone to the dogs too.

Passthecherrycoke · 07/10/2019 15:57

When chains like this go under it’s really often a more complex financing/ treasury reason rather than a straight forward “they didn’t appeal to me” or “there are lots of better independents” PE is owned by a Chinese equity firm which also owns zizzi and ask. It’s not going to be as straight forward as suggested here

GeoffreyAndBungle · 07/10/2019 16:16

The Pizza Express in our town always used to be busy but isn't now that we have 2 fantastic independent pizzarias nearby serving much much better pizzas at a lower price with lovely wine or beer.

Certainly in our town the chains seem to be closing down or quite empty whilst the independent food places are doing well.

ODFOx · 07/10/2019 16:24

For the coeliacs: we went to Pizza Express recently (not my choice) and apart from the fact that it was in a DIY store car park we enjoy d at and they had a special gluten n free menu and some gluten free options on the main menu.
Also, because it was almost empty we got a run at the salad bar before it got picked over!

RaininSummer · 07/10/2019 16:26

We will miss them as with vouchers they are great value and we love their pizzas. Admittedly I wouldn't go there without vouchers. As I am poor, it's the only time we go out to eat so the independent Italian places won't gain a customer.

ODFOx · 07/10/2019 16:26

Bollocks! I actually meant Pizza Hut!

Fresta · 07/10/2019 16:32

Oh no! My town has only recently had a Pizza Express open- we waited for years for a restaurant like this and now it's under threat- no decent independent here! Sad

It's no good people saying there are much nicer places- maybe where you live, yes- but how do you know for everywhere? It depends on the individual town you live in!

pjmask · 07/10/2019 16:38

It's pretty much the only place we can take our kids where we know they will reliably eat.Definitely overpriced, we never went without tesco vouchers and it still cost over £50 to feed us

£50 in Tesco vouchers gets you £150 of food! How many kids have you got?!

LadyAndiBella · 07/10/2019 16:49

I've never eaten there so it doesn't bother me either way.

Toddlerteaplease · 07/10/2019 17:00

Nooo. I love their chicken chaser salad. But one of the branches near me is always empty. Even when it should be full.

MountainPeakGeek · 07/10/2019 17:06

Sad Noooo... DH proposed to me in a Pizza Express ~20yrs ago. We probably haven't been to one for about 15 years but I'm bizarrely sad at the thought of them going under.

EagleVisionSquirrelWork · 07/10/2019 17:07

Leaving aside all the criticisms I made about quality earlier, I think it's fair enough that their target market has changed. As I see it, the reason they used to cater for trendy singles and now cater for families is just because all the trendy singles that enjoyed going there grew up and had kids. That's what happened to me anyway.

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 07/10/2019 17:28

It's pretty much the only place we can take our kids where we know they will reliably eat.

And that’s what puts off customers like me., far too many children.

jennymanara · 07/10/2019 17:34

Yes we last went a few years ago and it was like going to a creche. There were always kids there, but it seemed to be mainly kids

sorebumcheeks · 07/10/2019 17:51

Hmm weird.. I know someone who is working on a project for them at the moment, rehauling the staff training, shooting professional videos for them etc. Surely they wouldn't be doing this if they were about to go under?

WrongKindOfFace · 07/10/2019 17:53

I hope it doesn’t go under, but it was rather quiet the last time we went and I remember thinking that wasn’t a good sign. I do like their pizzas, but agree the pasta is a bit meh.

CloudsCanLookLikeSheep · 07/10/2019 17:57

I like pizza express (although now I'm low carbing can only really have the salads !) and am booked to go there for a meal this week with a friend. They are overpriced for what is basically glorified cheese on toast though.

MrsKCastle · 07/10/2019 17:59

Oh no! My DD will be absolutely gutted. She has always loved PE. She was diagnosed with coeliac disease a few months ago, and it made it so, so, much easier knowing that she could still eat out at her favourite place. She will genuinely be quite upset if they close.

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 07/10/2019 18:00

I like pizza express. I’ve been going since, well 1990 (when pizzas were about a fiver).

myusernamewastakenbyme · 07/10/2019 18:01

I hope Prezzo and Bella Italia follow suit....cheap muck sold at rip off prices....

LordProfFekkoThePenguinPhD · 07/10/2019 18:04

Strada was nice when it first opened then went downhill. I never liked Prezzo and ASK is awful.

TheJellyBabyMadeMeDoIt · 07/10/2019 18:10

There are 5 PE's within half an hour of me. I live in a bit town, surrounded by other towns, all have retail parks. They've saturated the market.

The one we have used a lot is in a smaller, quieter part of town and the service is great and food always good quality. We spent many a new year eve when the children were small having a family meal (early doors so before most adults and party goers were out) and were treated like royalty. It really was a lovely place to go.

As a family of 6 we also found them good value when used with Tesco vouchers. I do wonder if that and Meerkats has something to do with it, how do they make money (I've no idea how that stuff works so may be really obvious!)

It is over a year since we ate there, there is so much choice where we are.

Sad for the staff. I hope they can downsize, adapt their brand and continue with a better business model.

Original poster
QuimJongUn · 07/10/2019 18:14

I used to go to the one on Camden Parkway when I was a young footloose single girl living in London. I fancied myself very sophisticated 😂

It's true that the brand was once for trendy singles, who became trendy couples, and are now parents. Hence all the kids every time you visit.

OP posts:
SleepyKat · 07/10/2019 18:16

It'll be a shame for coeliacs if they do go under. One of the few safe choices especially if you're also vegi/vegan.

Abouttime · 07/10/2019 18:16

Casual dining has been screwed for a while and there are more casualties to come unfortunately.