Pizza Hut has revealed the locations of 68 restaurants which will close after the company behind its UK venues fell into administration.
It will also shut 11 delivery sites as part of a restructuring which will put 1,210 workers at risk of redundancy.
DC London Pie, the firm running Pizza Hut's UK dine-in restaurants under a franchise deal, appointed administrators from corporate finance firm FTI on Monday.
American hospitality giant Yum! Brands, which owns the global Pizza Hut business, said it has now bought the UK restaurant operation in a pre-pack administration deal, saving 64 sites.
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Pizza Hut administration 68 UK restaurants at risk
Full list of UK Pizza Hut restaurants set to close
Fortunately, the axe is not due to fall on any of the two Pizza Hut restaurants in York.
The city has restaurants on Pavement and at Monks Cross.
Pizza Hut take-aways are also unaffected. York has them at Acomb and on Hull Road.
However, in West Yorkshire, Pizza Hut restaurants will close at Bradford Vicar Lane; Huddersfield, Leeds Colton Mill, Leeds Kirkstall Road and Leeds White Rose.
Isabelle Shepherd, Partner, at HaysMac explained some of the background to the issue:
Isabelle said: “This news highlights the continued challenges hospitality businesses face due to falling consumer demand. Budget uncertainty has prompted falls in spending, causing falling sales for many restaurant chains.
“The pizza market is particularly competitive with many new entrants taking market share, which has reduced demand for some of the more established brands who may be seen as less exciting.”
Indeed, in recent year York has seen the arrival of popular brands such as Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, which is in High Ousegate, adding to its thriving and highly-rated independents such as Dough Eyed Pizza in Jubbergate and Cresci in Piccadilly.
Furthermore, as in the rest of the dining and hospitality, recent government measures have also impacted.
Isabelle added: “The increases in national insurance and the national living wage in April have compounded liquidity and cost issues.
“Hospitality businesses are suffering from the twin pressures of reduced sales and significantly increased labour costs, squeezing cashflows and working capital.
“Sadly, these pressures are too high for many to bear, including some beloved household names.”
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