Prime Minister Boris Johnson recently announced the widest easing of lockdown since it was implemented in mid-March, meaning life is on its way back to some degree of normality. Since Pizza Express was forced to close all of its restaurants – equalling almost 500 sites – the restaurant has offered takeaway from just 13 of its London restaurants. Pizza Express initially offered delivery-only from May 28, but later added the option for customers to collect their food.
When will Pizza Express open?
Pizza Express has announced it will be reopening 46 of its almost 500 sites to dine-in customers starting from Thursday, July 9.
The Italian-inspired chain will also open another 23 restaurants for delivery and click-and-collect services on July 2.
This is in addition to the 13 London restaurants which are already offering takeaway.
Managing director of Pizza Express Zoe Bowley said: “Following a successful trial of delivery-only and click-and-collect services in 13 of our pizzerias in London, and the latest advice from the Government, we are delighted to announce the first 46 of our pizzerias that will be reopening for dine-in customers from the beginning of July, and the extension of locations offering dine-out options.”
The list of dine-in eateries which will reopen includes just two restaurants in London: Abbey Road and Bankside.
The reopened restaurants will implement new social distancing and hygiene measures.
This will be combined with regular health checks for team members, hand sanitising stations, digital menus and online payment.
The majority of new restaurants reopening for takeaway are situated in London, or close to the capital.
Walton on Thames
Harrow, St George’s Centre
Woking
Buxton
Carlisle
Cheshire Oaks
Chester
Didsbury
Gretna Gateway
Hale
Knutsford
Liverpool – King’s Waterfront
Macclesfield
Poynton
Wilmslow
Bar Marzano – Norwich
Basildon
Bishops Stortford
Braintree
Bury St. Edmonds
Chelmsford
Colchester
Ely
Hatfield
Hertford
Ipswich – Regatta Quay
Kings Lynn
Lakesire
Newmarket
Norwich – St Benedict Street
Norwich – Forum building
Rayleigh
Southend
Berkhamsted
Beverly
Durham
Harrogate
Hull – Princes Quay
Ilkley
Newcastle – Eldon Square
Skipton
York -River House
York – St Sampsons Square
The Pizza Express restaurants already offering takeaway are:
Abbeville Road
Balham
Belsize Park
Camden
Chiswick
Croydon – George Street
Dulwich
Ealing
Fulham Road
Greenwich
Notting Hill Gate
Shepherds Bush
Wandsworth – Trinity Road
Can you book a table?
For now, customers are not able to book a table via the Pizza Express website, even for July 2 when some sites will reopen.
Ms Bowley added: “Our top priority is to protect the safety and wellbeing of our teams and customers.
“The extensive safety measures we have in place across all reopened pizzerias will allow us to provide the full Pizza Express experience that our customers have come to love, in a safe and responsible way, as we work to gradually bring back our freshly handmade pizza to even more locations in the near future.”