Stafford shops closing - Turning into a ghost town?

The Notorious A.N.T.

Well-Known Forumite
That's a bit crap :(
That is a shame but it is a classic example of what has happened in the 'casual dining' sector over the last fews years. A lot of these chains have been sold to private equity groups who then expand too quickly (usually on other people's cash). Corners start getting cut trying to increase profits, quality inevitably falls & trade decreases. Sad for the people who have lost jobs but hopefully the demise of chain restaurants like Pizza Express & Frankie & Benny's will increase trade for the decent local eateries.
 

Tilly

Well-Known Forumite
That is a shame but it is a classic example of what has happened in the 'casual dining' sector over the last fews years. A lot of these chains have been sold to private equity groups who then expand too quickly (usually on other people's cash). Corners start getting cut trying to increase profits, quality inevitably falls & trade decreases. Sad for the people who have lost jobs but hopefully the demise of chain restaurants like Pizza Express & Frankie & Benny's will increase trade for the decent local eateries.

This
 

Wormella

Well-Known Forumite
Sad for the people who have lost jobs but hopefully the demise of chain restaurants like Pizza Express & Frankie & Benny's will increase trade for the decent local eateries.

Only if the remaining restaurants have capacity and choice. It wasn't that long ago that I can remember failing to get any food at all in town (that wasn't a curry) because pizza express was full and Bella Italia had run out of pizza.
 

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
It wasn't like all the other identikit Pizza Express', which was a good thing.
I think a lot of that was down to the ambiance of the old natwest building, it just felt light and airy no matter how full it was, i'm guessing it is listed so that might limit it's use on resale
 

c0tt0nt0p

Well-Known Forumite
Pizza Express in Stafford has always been my favourite Pizza Express, it's a shame that it has gone as it was always busy when we were there.
We thought that until we ate at one in Jersey in 2005, on a beachfront. It was a stunning location.
 

BobClay

Well-Known Forumite
An old Bakelite light switch glued to the dashboard with a dymo tape label stuck below it that says: TURBO
 
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