TAKEAWAY pizza restaurant Papa Johns will remain open in Chester despite the announcement yesterday (Tuesday, March 26) that 43 of the chain’s locations are set to close.

The company is due to shut “underperforming” restaurants across the UK by mid-May after launching a review at the start of the year.

The Chester restaurant, located in Sumner House, was not among those marked for closure, however locations in both Runcorn and Bebington are.

The group had previously said it planned “strategic closures” in order to free up money for investment and improving profitability at its remaining UK sites.

It has now identified 43 restaurants as “underperforming locations that are no longer financially viable”.

The company has not confirmed how many staff will be impacted by closures.

Chris Phylactou, managing director at Papa Johns UK, 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 company said it plans to increase investment in research and technology, such as better utilising customer data, as part of its UK strategy.

It also said it will look at the development of new types of sites beyond traditional restaurants, such as expanding into holiday parks, and is set to “announce other large retail partners in the coming months”.

Mr Phylactou added: “While this is a difficult decision, closing these underperforming locations will give us the opportunity to invest back into the right locations with the right partners for long-term growth.

“We are focused on driving shared profitable growth across our UK restaurants, by continuing to make improvements to our business to ensure that we are well positioned for the future.

“We have been encouraged by the results so far from these initiatives.”

The following restaurants are set to shut:

  • 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