New Pizza Express Restaurant to Open in Hull City Centre Before Christmas

Strategic Insights -

A new Pizza Express restaurant is set to open in Hull city centre in the coming weeks, bringing new employment opportunities to the local community. The popular chain will occupy the newly restored Burton House, a Grade-II listed building that had stood empty since 2020. The restaurant will be the second Pizza Express location in Hull, with the existing site at Princes Quay remaining open.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pizza Express has submitted a licensing application to Hull City Council, seeking permission to open a restaurant in Burton House, a Grade-II listed building in the city centre.
  • The new restaurant will create new jobs, with the existing team from the Princes Quay location moving to the new site.
  • The building's owners, Wykeland Group, have completed a £2.4m restoration project, which included replacing the granite cladding and restoring the art deco windows.
  • The restaurant will open before Christmas, with the exact date yet to be confirmed.
  • The existing Pizza Express location at Princes Quay will remain open, with no plans to close the site.
  • Wykeland Group has seen strong interest in the upper floors of Burton House, which are being converted into office spaces.
  • The organisation is confident that the opening of Pizza Express will return the building to active use and bring new life to the city centre.

Statistics:

  • £2.4m: The cost of the restoration project, which included replacing the granite cladding and restoring the art deco windows.
  • 1930s: The original date of the building, with the restoration project aiming to return it to its original art deco-style glory.
  • 2020: The year the Burton House was left empty, when its owner, Arcadia Group, went into administration.
  • 2: The number of Pizza Express locations in Hull, with the new restaurant set to open.
  • 10: The number of years the project to restore the Burton House has taken, with significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sources:

  • "Hull Daily Mail" (original report in August)
  • "Pizza Express spokesperson" (comment regarding the new restaurant)
  • "Wykeland Group" (statement regarding the restoration project)
  • "Hull City Council" (documentation of the licensing application)
  • "Wykeland Group press release" (statement regarding the interest in office space)