Pizza Hut has announced it will shut 68 restaurants across the United Kingdom. This move will affect 1,210 employees who face redundancy. The closures span cities including Brighton, Hull, Bristol, Leeds, and Edinburgh. In addition to dine-in locations, 11 delivery outlets will also close.
Pizza Hut’s UK dine-in operations are managed by DC London Pie Limited. Administrators from FTI Consulting LLP took over management on Monday amid financial difficulties. Yum! Brands, the global Pizza Hut owner, has bought the UK restaurant operation in a pre-pack administration deal. This transaction secures the future of 64 Pizza Hut sites in the UK and saves roughly 1,276 jobs.
Pizza Hut is set to close 68 restaurants across UK
Key Challenges and Administration Details
DC London Pie Limited cited difficult trading conditions and rising costs as key challenges impacting business performance. The company also faced “material cash flow pressures” linked to tax-related obligations. These financial strains led to the administration process. Joint administrator Matt Callaghan confirmed the administration team will support employees made redundant during this restructure.
Pizza Hut’s UK operations had previously entered administration less than a year ago. In January, DC London Pie acquired the Pizza Hut restaurants from insolvency. The company also holds franchise rights in Sweden and Denmark.
Scope of Restaurant Closures
The closure programme will leave 64 Pizza Hut restaurants operational in the UK. The Greater Manchester area will be among the hardest hit regions. Seven out of nine local restaurants will close, leaving only outlets at the Trafford Centre and city centre open.
Greater London will see the closure of nine outlets in outer boroughs. This will reduce the number of city locations to three, plus one at the Bluewater shopping centre. Conversely, the East Midlands region remains unaffected, with outlets in Nottingham, Mansfield, Thurmaston, and Leicester continuing to trade.
Pizza Hut opened its first UK restaurant in 1973 in Islington, London. At its peak, the brand operated over 260 locations nationwide, employing around 10,000 staff.
Pizza Hut in Islington, London
List of Restaurants Closing
Some of the restaurants set for closure include:
- Ashton
- Beckton
- Bolton
- Bournemouth
- Bradford, Vicar Lane
- Brighton, Marina
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Carlisle
- Chatham
- Clacton
- Cortonwood
- Crawley
- Cribbs Causeway
- Croydon
- Dudley
- Dundee
- Durham City
- Eastbourne
- Edinburgh (multiple locations including Fountain Park and Kinnaird Park)
- Enfield
- Falkirk
- Feltham
- Finchley, Lido
- Great Yarmouth
- Greenwich
- Grimsby
- Hartlepool
- Hayes
- Hereford
- Huddersfield
- Hull
- Inverness
- Kettering
- Kidderminster
- Lancaster
- Leeds (Colton Mill, Kirkstall Road, White Rose)
- Liverpool
Delivery Sites Closing
The following delivery locations will also close:
- Aylesbury
- Bletchley
- Coventry North
- Coventry West
- Dunstable
- Leighton Buzzard
- Luton
- Milton Keynes
- Rugby
- Uxbridge
- Wolverton
Corporate Statements
Nicolas Burquier, managing director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, described the pre-pack acquisition as “targeted.” He said it “aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible.” Burquier added that the “immediate priority is operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition.”
Matt Callaghan stated, “This transaction provides a stable platform for one of the UK’s best-known dine-in brands, securing the continuation of 64 Pizza Hut sites and importantly preserves 1,276 jobs.” He also noted the commitment to help employees who have been made redundant.
Nicolas Burquier, managing director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada
Historical and Market Context
The UK Pizza Hut faced fierce competition from other casual dining businesses over recent years. Rising operational costs and difficult trading conditions, including post-pandemic challenges, contributed to the strain. DC London Pie was created by Directional Capital to manage the brand’s UK dine-in sites. Directional Capital previously took over 139 Pizza Hut sites in 2020, protecting 3,000 jobs.
Industry analysts viewed this latest restructuring as part of broader shifts in the UK restaurant market. Several prominent chains have also faced closures and financial difficulties. The move to preserve a core group of profitable restaurants aims to stabilise Pizza Hut’s footprint in the UK.
Also Read: Amazon’s $2.5 Billion Settlement Opens Refund Window for Prime Customers
Final Remarks
Pizza Hut’s announcement signals a significant shift in its UK operations. Closing 68 restaurants and 11 delivery points will affect thousands of staff and reshape the brand’s presence. The acquisition by Yum! Brands seeks to maintain a viable business model moving forward. The company’s focus remains on protecting remaining jobs and delivering consistent service to customers across the UK.
This updated strategy marks an important chapter for Pizza Hut as it adapts to ongoing market pressures and changing consumer habits. The closures highlight the challenges within the casual dining sector while reaffirming the brand’s commitment to its loyal customer base and employees.
