Pizza Express in Newport is to close for good after the restaurant chain announced it would be shutting 73 restaurants across the UK.
The chain's restaurant in Spytty was confirmed to be among the list of permanent closures announced last night by the company after its takings plunged due to the coronavirus crisis.
Pizza Express UK and Ireland managing director Zoe Bowley said that although most of the restaurants closing were profitable before the pandemic, the enforced lockdown closures and costs of reopening along with ongoing economic uncertainty meant rental costs were no longer sustainable.
“In most cases, there is another Pizza Express nearby, either already open or reopening soon, to welcome our customers. Our focus is on our people whose jobs are impacted and we will be doing everything we can either to redeploy them or to support them in finding roles elsewhere," Ms Bowley said in a statement.
“Hard as this process is, it will protect the jobs of over 9,000 of our colleagues and provide a strong footing for Pizza Express to meet future challenges and opportunities.”
Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business.
The company currently has around 454 restaurants in the UK. Its restaurant in Wrexham is also closing permanently.
View the full list of closures here.
