Could PizzaExpress be heading to the village?

by Lisa Reeves

Monday 1^st June 2009

Mon 1^st Jun 2009

We were informed this week by a friend in the restaurant trade that PizzaExpress has taken out the lease at 15 London Road. The premises has stood empty since the Wine Bar shut its doors after 35 years of serving the village. According to our source PizzaExpress will be opening a larger restaurant by knocking through to where the old Tuula shop was located.

In an attempt to confirm the story we spoke with Alex Whitelaw, the PR Manager at PizzaExpress, she told us "I can’t confirm we’re opening a PizzaExpress in Alderley Edge. We have looked at a site there but no decision has been made at this stage."

Given that the landlords, Congleton-based investment firm Roman Lodge, have reportedly been asking for an annual rent of £37,750 on a 15 year lease we were concerned the premises could remain empty for some time, especially with the current economic conditions.

Comments

Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.

Vivienne Marr

Monday 1^st June 2009 at 10:27 pm

Tesco, Pizza Express, Costas, whatever next? I am in mourning for the village as it was, especially Number 15.

Karen Taylor

Tuesday 2^nd June 2009 at 8:35 am

Couldn't agree more. We don't need another pizza place or indeed any other restaurant chain. No 15 was very special and most residents would probably prefer to see its return than simply another me-too setting up. No thanks.

David Tutton

Tuesday 2^nd June 2009 at 11:36 am

I have recently returned from the beautiful city of Prague which I can tell you has its fair share of Tesco, KFC and the like. If a wonderful city like Prague can embrace these chains, then surely Alderley Edge can do the same.

At an annual rent of £37,750, a small independent restaurant would find it hard to survive, but a big chain like Pizza Express could probably absorb the burden. So if it comes down to empty shops or a lively Pizza Express, I would vote for the latter every time.

During the credit crunch Pizza Express has been offering 2 meals for the price of one and on occasions I have noticed an abundance of diners in their Wilmslow restaurant while others have been virtually empty. Is two for the price of one frowned on in Alderley Edge? If so carry on frowning, I just can't wait to get my teeth into a delicious pizza, served in their NEW London Road restaurant!

Verity Henfrey

Tuesday 9^th June 2009 at 4:50 pm

I think it would be great to have a PizzaExpress in Alderley. I love it and to go there I have to go into Wilmslow when I'd rather walk down the hill into the village

David Tutton

Tuesday 9^th June 2009 at 8:29 pm

How refreshing to hear your comments Verity. I am sure there are many people in Alderley Edge who would echo your views. Bring on Pizza Express!

Martin Reeves

Tuesday 16^th June 2009 at 8:16 am

I would love to have Pizza Express in the village. As a father of two young girls it would be great to have another local option when we want to eat out as a family. At the moment there is only Gusto in the village that can really be considered family friendly.

The food is generally very nice and there permanently seems to be some sort of special offer on these days which makes PizzaExpress great value. If Pizza Express does open in Alderley Edge I really hope they won't try to pack as many tables into the restaurant as they have in Wilmslow.

Brian Etchells

Tuesday 7^th July 2009 at 6:02 pm

Brilliant!! Would love to have Pizza Express in Alderley, just hope it isn't as noisy as Wilmslow and untidy as Macclesfield. At last something sensible that isn't owned by TESCO!!

Joel Mahoney

Wednesday 8^th July 2009 at 8:21 am

Again, as with Tescos / Dobbies, people are complaining about chains opening in the village as if it's the downfall of society. Look around the high street - RBS, Barclays, Nat West - banks that if you're local you probably use and yet they are all far bigger than Pizza Express, cause more misery worldwide, are bankrolled by us, the tax payer (excluding Barclays) with billions of pounds of loans because they got greedy and cried poverty when the credit crunch hit, ruin people lives, have unethical and frankly scandalous charges and profit at the expense of others. Yet not one word of complaint. Bring on Pizza Express I say - at least I can afford to eat there.