Pizza Hut downfall from iconic all-you-can-eat buffet, Prem sponsorship and closures

The death knell for Pizza Hut in the UK has been sounded – sort of. The one-time most popular pizza chain the UK is now set to shut 68 stores and several takeaway branches after the company responsible for its UK venues fell into administration. Around 1,200 staff will leave, with DC London Pie, the firm operating Pizza Hut's UK dine-in restaurants under a franchise agreement, appointing administrators from corporate finance firm FTI on Monday. But how has the one-great chain of pizzas famous for it's all-you-can-eat buffet hit such a low point? The Daily Star has done some digging . . . Pizza Hut's entry into the UK was a straightforward case of international expansion by the popular American arm of pizza chain – as detailed in a docu-series called Slice of Life: The American Dream. In Former Pizza Huts. The global success of the brand, founded in Kansas in 1958, prompted the decision to open stores across the Atlantic. The first ever UK Pizza Hut restaurant was opened in Islington, London, in 1973, marking the brand's official arrival in Britain and introducing the British public to their American-style pizzas. It proved to be a hit, and was bought by PepsiCo in 1977, before joining forces with Whitbread – which at one point owned Costa Coffee. They were opening one new store every week in the UK – peaking at 700 in 2006 – with the now-iconic all-you-can-eat buffet playing a huge part in that. The brand even became the main shirt sponsor for Premier League side Fulham in 2001, and had a sponsorship deal with rivals Chelsea at the same time . . . a ballsy move. The “hut” as it was known, was the go-to place for families, thanks to the buffet and its famous ice cream bar – but seemingly no longer. Like most of the UK, the cost-of-living crisis, the pandemic and the general state of . . . well, everything has played a role in the downfall. And although the mass closures have caught many off guard, despite the overcrowded restaurant market with rivals like Domino's, Pizza Express and more doing well, one expert has claimed that this should be a “bitter slice of reality” for the UK's high street. Dariusz Karpowicz, Director at Albion Financial Advice said: “Pizza Hut's dine-in collapse serves up a bitter slice of reality for Britain's struggling high street. When even household names can't keep the lights on, you know the casual dining sector is in serious trouble. “The numbers tell the story: soaring energy costs, rising employment expenses, and families treating restaurant meals as luxuries rather than regular treats. Delivery apps have eaten into traditional dine-in profits whilst post-pandemic consumer habits remain firmly changed. “This isn't just about one pizza chain going under, though. It's hundreds of local jobs vanishing and more empty shopfronts joining Britain's hollowed-out high streets. The government needs a genuine long-term strategy, not election-winning soundbites.” Well, 1,200 staff are at risk and 68 branches are closing. This leaves around 60 other branches still functioning but under a new owner – a far cry from the 700 it once had. The buffer will continue, the iconic brand name will remain on the streets, but one does have to wonder just how long the British public will continue to flock to the brand, especially as rival names are seemingly becoming more and more popular and takeaway options are just an app click away. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .