Chippenham to lose its Pizza Express restaurant as 73 close nationwide

Chippenham Pizza Express is on the list of branches to be permanently closed as part of a major restructuring plan.

By: Joe Palmer / 19 August 2020

The restaurant in the Market Place is one of 73 to close across the country putting a total of 1,100 jobs at risk.

The chain has formally launched a proposal to reduce its restaurant estate and rental cost base through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).

UK & Ireland managing director Zoe Bowley said the impact of the coronavirus pandemic had led to some “incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term”.

She added:

“Today we have confirmed that 73 of our pizzerias are proposed to close permanently.
“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.
“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.”

The following restaurants, including Chippenham, have been earmarked for closure: