Papa Johns announces it will close 43 ‘underperforming’ restaurants across UK

Pizza restaurant chain Papa Johns has announced it will be closing 43 of its UK sites, which it says are ‘underperforming’.

The chain, which has around 450 UK sites, has identified the locations which it says are ‘no longer financially viable’.

Almost 10% of its sites are set to close, although the company has not yet revealed how many jobs will be affected.

Announcing the Papa Johns site closures, UK managing director Chris Phylactou, 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.”

The group had previously said it had planned ‘strategic closures’ to free up money for investments as well as improve the profitability of its remaining sites.

It wants to invest in research and technology and better utilise its customer data as part of its strategy moving forward. The company also plans to open sites in holiday parks and will ‘announce other large retail partners in the coming months’.

The US-owned company also said it is ‘committed to driving growth in the UK and improving results over the long term’.

Separately, Revolution Bars has said it is exploring a strategic restructure and may sell all or part of the group. It said it has been in talks with ‘key shareholders’ and other investors about raising extra funds.

About 2,500 people work for the company, which owns Peach Pubs and the Revolucion de Cuba chain, and is said to be looking to close up to 20 of its worst-performing sites which could result in hundreds of job losses.

The Papa Johns restaurants that are set to close within the next two months are:

• 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