Staff at Pizza Hut in Westwood have been told the site is shutting and their jobs lost with immediate effect after the franchisee went into administration.
The Westwood branch is among 68 restaurant and 11 delivery outlets across the country to be affected, with the loss of more than 1,200 jobs.
DC London Pie Limited, a franchisee of Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, appointed FTI Consulting as administrators yesterday (October 20).
Staff at Westwood were told of the closure at 12.30pm yesterday and the branch is now listed as ‘temporarily closed’ online. The Broadstairs High Street takeaway remains open.
A relative of one staff member said: “They were all told at 12.30pm yesterday and given 20 minutes to get their belongings and vacate the building. It’s come as a shock to all.”
It is understood the branch had at least 14 staff.
Some 64 sites continue to trade after Pizza Hut UK, part of the chain’s parent company Yum! Brands, stepped in to save them.
Administrators’ documents said the business posted a loss of £9.4m in 2024.
Immediately on appointment, the joint administrators completed the sale of 64 dine-in restaurants and the ROI master franchise operations to Pizza Hut UK via a pre-packaged administration, safeguarding 1,276 jobs.
The joint administrators also announced the closure of the remaining 68 dine-in restaurants and 11 delivery outlets with immediate effect and are working with the 1,210 affected employees who were unfortunately made redundant.
Like many casual dining businesses, DC has been impacted by challenging trading conditions and increased costs. In addition, it faced material cash flow pressures as a result of tax-related obligations.
Matt Callaghan, joint administrator, said: “This transaction provides a stable platform for one of the UK’s best-known dine-in brands, securing the continuation of 64 Pizza Hut sites and importantly preserves 1,276 jobs. The joint administrators will continue to work with employees who have unfortunately been made redundant, to ensure they get the support needed.”
I am sorry for the loss of jobs, a difficult time finding a new role in the lead up to Christmas. I wish all the staff best of luck for the future.
A relative of one staff member said: “They were all told at 12.30pm yesterday and given 20 minutes to get their belongings and vacate the building. It’s come as a shock to all.”
And that is what you mean to these megacorp multi millionaire & billionaire owners-nothing. You could have worked at their stores years, or even decades, while they say you are one big family. Then one day you get fired & if you don’t get your stuff & get out in 20 minutes, they will throw you out with force
I FULLY AGREE WITH U. ONE PLACE FOR THESE RICH SCUMHEADS-HELL.
BY ”…get the support they need” I hope Callaghan means a fair redundancy package
And that is why you should never go to these “trusted megabrands” run by bankers and their lawyers.
Get your cuppa or pizza from your local Terry’s Torrid Tea or Pretty Paola’s Pizza Parlour. If anonymous investors haven’t killed these independent businesses yet.
I personally avoid to be ripped off at trendy cafs like Starcosta, do me no pizza, poopa poop, Mc Underground and other super brands that rely on slave labour. And I would hate to appear on the background of the selfies of their overpaying customers as well.
Easy get a job making pizzas 🍕.. it’s not brain surgery! Lol ranks along side cleaner, carer , pizza staff .. low pay low IQ
IQ isn’t an accurate measure of intelligence, which you’d know if you were actually intelligent. You know how I know you’d struggle as a carer or cleaner? Your lack of empathy and sneering at those you deem lower (or you deem cannot do anything for you)…they say you can tell a LOT about a person by how they treat service staff, so well done for showing us all who you truly are, Frank.