Pizza Hut in the UK is planning to shut down 68 restaurants and 11 delivery locations, resulting in the loss of 1,210 jobs. DC London Pie Limited, a franchisee of Pizza Hut dine-in restaurants, has appointed FTI Consulting as administrators. Yum! Brands, the global owner of Pizza Hut, has agreed to rescue 64 locations and 1,277 jobs through a pre-pack administration deal.
In a pre-pack administration, the sale of a business or its assets is arranged before the administration process officially starts. A Pizza Hut UK spokesperson stated that the acquisition of Pizza Hut dine-in operations has been confirmed through a pre-packaged administration, ensuring the continuity of 64 sites and safeguarding jobs. Around 1,277 team members will transition to the new Yum! equity business under UK TUPE legislation.
Nicolas Burquier, Managing Director of Pizza Hut Europe and Canada, emphasized that the acquisition aims to protect the guest experience and preserve jobs where possible. Directional Capital took control of 139 Pizza Hut restaurants in January 2025, saving 3,000 jobs after the collapse of the previous operator, Heart with Smart Limited.
DC London Pie was established by Directional Capital to manage Pizza Hut restaurants in the UK. The first Pizza Hut in the UK opened in Islington, London in 1973, expanding to over 260 restaurants nationwide with 10,000 employees at its peak.
This closure announcement is part of a trend of struggling businesses facing closures in recent months. Poundland has closed numerous stores following a significant business restructure after being sold to an investment firm. Bodycare, a beauty chain, shut down all its stores last month after entering administration, with 62 stores closing permanently.
