Family favourite pizza chain to close 43 locations in May – check the full list
A FAMILY favourite pizza chain is to shut dozens of locations across the country in May.
Papa Johns has confirmed the locations of 43 restaurants it will shut within the next two months.
It comes just months after The Sun revealed that as many as 100 locations could face the chop and disappear forever.
It said on Tuesday that, following a consultation process, all 43 restaurants confirmed for closure will cease trading in mid-May.
The company has not confirmed how many staff will be impacted by closures.
The following restaurants are set to shut:
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- Barnsley, South Yorkshire
- Bebington, Merseyside
- Bexhill, East Sussex
- Billericay, Essex
- Bromley, Greater London
- Coulsdon, Greater London
- Cricklewood, Greater London
- Darlington, County Durham
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Durham, County Durham
- East Dulwich, Greater London
- East Grinstead, West Sussex
- Eastbourne, East Sussex
- Hailsham, East Sussex
- Harringay, Greater London
- Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Hendon, Greater London
- Horsham, West Sussex
- Lancaster, Lancashire
- Leeds Meanwood, West Yorkshire
- Liverpool West Derby Road, Merseyside
- Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire
- Mottingham, Greater London
- Northwood Hills, Greater London
- Peacehaven, East Sussex
- Peckham, Greater London
- Penge, Greater London
- Putney, Greater London
- Redhill, Surrey
- Rochdale, Greater Manchester
- Rotherham, South Yorkshire
- Ruislip, Greater London
- Runcorn, Cheshire
- Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire
- Sittingbourne, Kent
- Southport, Merseyside
- St Helens, Merseyside
- Stoke Newington, Greater London
- Tunbridge Wells, Kent
- Upminster, Greater London
- Watford St Albans Road, Hertfordshire
- Whitton, Greater London
- Wimbledon, Greater London
Chris Phylactou, managing director at Papa Johns UK, said: "Our priority is our team members, who will be fully supported throughout this process.
"Our goal is to work with impacted team members and attempt to find redeployment opportunities where available.
"We understand the impact this will have on our team members and are committed to supporting them during this time."
It comes after the chain, which operates 524 locations in the UK, told investors in January that it anticipates "additional strategic restaurant closures of low-performing restaurants" in a bid to boost profits.
At the time, a spokesperson for the pizza giant said: "As our second largest global market, the UK is critical to Papa Johns's long-term success.
"As we work to fully optimize our restaurant operations and improve profitability across the market, we will continue evaluating the growth potential of our restaurants.
"This includes working collaboratively with our franchisees to strategically close low-performing locations when necessary, as well as continuing to invest in the right locations for the benefit of our customers.
"We will work to fully support team members through any transitions.
"However, it's important to note that no final decisions have been made at this time."
History of Papa Johns in the UK
PAPA Johns is the UK's second-largest pizza takeaway brand, and has 118 branches that it owns and runs, as well as 406 franchises.
Domino's, the chain's biggest rival, operates at 1,253 locations and Pizza Hut 150.
Papa Johns' first British restaurant opened in 1999 in Grays in Essex after the brand went international.
But by 2013, it celebrated the opening of its 200th UK store.
The pizza chain closed 22 restaurants in 2023 but opened new branches in 15 locations.
The closures come as hospitality bosses say that they are facing the worse start to the year ever with a string of high profile closures.
Restaurant chains are suffering from a double-whammy of falling sales as cash-strapped consumers cut back on going out and rising costs from higher wages, rent, energy and ingredient costs.
In 2023, some well-known retailers shut a handful of branches, while others have disappeared from the high street for good.
In January 2023, Byron Burger fell into administration, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Italian dining chain Prezzo revealed plans to shut 46 restaurants back in April due to soaring energy and food costs, putting 810 jobs at risk.
Other chains have been forced to put expansion plans on hold.
Hostmore, the owner of restaurant chain TGI Fridays and 63rd+1st has said that it will no longer open any new restaurants until at least 2025, after confirming a drop in earnings.
The Centre for Retail Research also revealed today that 10,494 shops closed for the last time during 2023, and 119,405 jobs were lost in the sector.
More shops had been lost in previous years, and there was a reduction in job losses from 151,641 in 2022.
But the centre's director, Professor Joshua Bamfield, said the improvement is "less bad" rather than good.
"The cost-of-living crisis, inflation and increases in interest rates have led many consumers to tighten their belts, reducing retail spend,” Prof Bamfield said.
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"Retailers themselves have suffered increasing energy and occupancy costs, staff shortages and falling demand that have made rebuilding profits after extensive store closures during the pandemic exceptionally difficult."
The Centre for Retail Research said most stores were closed because companies were trying to reorganise and cut costs, rather than the business failing.