Pizza Express has announced plans to close around 67 of its restaurants in the UK, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk.
The popular pizza chain has said it is planning to launch a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in the "near future" in a bid to push down its rents, amid a "significantly more challenging environment" after the coronavirus pandemic.
The outcome has "yet to be decided", Pizza Express said, but it may end in the closure of around 15% of its 449 restaurants in the UK, affecting the significant number of jobs.
The company added: "This decision is a very difficult one; however, against the current unprecedented backdrop, Pizza Express believes reducing the size of its estate will help it to protect 9,000 jobs."
PizzaExpress also said it had put itself up for sale after bringing in experts.
The sale will be run independently to its other plans and was started on Tuesday, PizzaExpress revealed.
UK and Ireland managing director Zoe Bowley said: "While the financial restructuring is a positive step forward, at the same time we have had to make some really tough decisions.
"As a result, it is with a heavy heart that we expect to permanently close a proportion of our restaurants, losing valued team members in the process.
"This is incredibly sad for our PizzaExpress family and we will do everything we can to support our teams at this time.
"As we continue to reopen our restaurants for dine-in and delivery, we will successfully navigate the extended period of social distancing expected in the months ahead and, in so doing, protect 9,000 jobs.
"The initial signs from the restaurants that have been reopened have been very encouraging and we hope that our loyal customers continue to support us now more than ever."
It is not yet known which restaurants could close, casting doubt on the future of several in the region, including Newcastle's Dean Street and Eldon Square, Gosforth and Jesmond.
The firm also has restaurants in Durham, Dalton Park, Darlington and Middlesbrough.
