In a major development for Britain’s hospitality sector, Pizza Hut has announced the closure of 68 restaurants and 11 delivery sites (see below) following the collapse of its UK operator, DC London Pie, which has entered administration. The restructuring move will put 1,210 UK workers at risk of redundancy — a stark reminder of the continuing pressures faced by the country’s restaurant industry.
DC London Pie, the company behind Pizza Hut’s UK dine-in operations, appointed administrators from FTI Consulting earlier this week. The administration follows less than a year after the company itself acquired Pizza Hut’s UK venues from insolvency — signalling ongoing instability within the casual dining market.
In a turn of events offering partial relief, Yum! Brands, the American parent company of Pizza Hut, has stepped in with a sliced up pre-pack administration deal, securing 64 restaurant sites and protecting 1,277 jobs across the UK. The rescue package aims to ensure operational continuity for remaining outlets while providing limited protection for affected employees.
Nicolas Burquier, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, commented:
“This targeted acquisition aims to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible. Our immediate priority is operational continuity at the acquired locations and supporting colleagues through the transition.”
The financial distress came to a head approximately six weeks after HMRC filed a winding-up petition against DC London Pie, following concerns over unpaid tax liabilities. The firm, formed by Directional Capital, had previously operated Pizza Hut franchises in Sweden and Denmark before purchasing 139 UK restaurants from Heart with Smart Limited earlier this year.
Despite the intervention by Yum! Brands, the closures are widespread, stretching from Ashton in Lancashire to Truro in Cornwall — UK workers, suppliers, and customers facing a period of uncertainty.
Impact on UK workers
The Workers Union acknowledges the distress these closures will cause for many loyal workers who have served their communities through challenging times. The hospitality sector continues to face high operational costs, lower discretionary spending, and difficulties in recruitment — all of which have added strain to already fragile business models.
This latest restructuring underscores the need for continued support for UK workers impacted by sudden corporate collapses. Many Pizza Hut staff, from chefs and servers to delivery drivers, now face uncertain futures as redundancy processes begin.
The Workers Union continues to urge employers across the hospitality industry to prioritise transparency, fairness, and compassion when managing redundancies. It is vital that workers receive the correct entitlements and access to advice during this transition.
The Pizza Hut closures represent both a painful loss for UK high streets and a stark warning about the fragility of the casual dining sector. While the intervention by Yum! Brands has prevented a total collapse, the job losses will be deeply felt across the UK. For workers affected, support, communication, and fair treatment must remain the priority.
List of Pizza Hut restaurant closures
Dine-in restaurant closures:
Ashton (Lancashire), Beckton (London), Bolton (Lancashire), Bournemouth (Dorset), Bradford Vicar Lane (West Yorkshire), Brighton Marina (East Sussex), Bristol (Avon), Cardiff (South Glamorgan), Carlisle (Cumbria), Chatham (Kent), Clacton (Essex), Cortonwood (South Yorkshire), Crawley (West Sussex), Cribbs Causeway (Avon), Croydon (Surrey), Dudley (West Midlands), Dundee, Durham City (County Durham), Eastbourne (East Sussex), Edinburgh (Scotland), Edinburgh Fountain Park, Edinburgh Kinnaird Park, Enfield (Middlesex), Falkirk (Scotland), Feltham (Middlesex), Finchley Lido (London), Great Yarmouth (Norfolk), Greenwich (London), Grimsby (Lincolnshire), Hartlepool (Cleveland), Hayes (Middlesex), Hereford (Herefordshire), Huddersfield (West Yorkshire), Hull (East Yorkshire), Inverness (Scotland), Kettering (Northamptonshire), Kidderminster (Worcestershire), Lancaster (Lancashire), Leeds Colton Mill (West Yorkshire), Leeds Kirkstall Road (West Yorkshire), Leeds White Rose (West Yorkshire), Liverpool (Merseyside), Llanelli (Dyfed), Lowestoft (Suffolk), Manchester Fort (Lancashire), Middlesbrough (Cleveland), Norwich (Norfolk), Oldham (Lancashire), Portsmouth (Hampshire), Preston (Lancashire), Reading Gate (Berkshire), Rhyl (Clwyd), Rochdale (Lancashire), Romford (Essex), Russell Square (London), Scunthorpe (Lincolnshire), Shrewsbury (Shropshire), Silverlink (Tyne & Wear), Solihull (West Midlands), St Helens (Merseyside), Stratford-upon-Avon (Warwickshire), Thanet (Kent), Tower Park (Dorset), Truro (Cornwall), Urmston (Lancashire), Wellingborough (Northamptonshire), Wigan (Lancashire), Yeovil (Somerset).
Delivery site closures:
Aylesbury (Buckinghamshire), Bletchley (Milton Keynes), Coventry North (West Midlands), Coventry West (West Midlands), Dunstable (Bedfordshire), Leighton Buzzard (Bedfordshire), Luton (Bedfordshire), Milton Keynes (Buckinghamshire), Rugby (Warwickshire), Uxbridge (Middlesex), Wolverton (Milton Keynes).
