Pizza Express unveils list of restaurants opening in April, including these in the North West

The restaurant chain has released the list of which outlets will be able to open when the next stage of lockdown easing arrives next month.

But restaurants that lack suitable outdoor eating areas such as those in Blackpool, Lytham and Preston, are not on the list.

Bosses at the chain, which has 370 pizza restaurants, say that the rest should be open for indoor dining if and when the next set of restrictions are lifted on May 17.

Under the current restrictions the chain has more than 100 of its kitchens open for click and collect pizzas, including Preston and Lytham, but from April 12, 118 will open for outdoor eating.

Last year the firm permanently shut 73 of its branches, putting up to 1,100 jobs at risk. The firm said savings were necessary as earnings had fallen and and the chain had felt the impact of the coronavirus crisis after having to remain closed during the first lockdown period.

It said the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown came into place last March, but that several factors mean that its rental costs were no longer feasible at some sites.

Pizza Express managing director Zoe Bowley said they had really missed buzz and bustle and seeing their customers.

She said: "Whether you book or simply walk-in, our teams will be happily serving our delicious range of pizzas in our gardens and terraces throughout England and we’ll be ready to open in Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Ireland as soon as their national restrictions end."

The list of restaurants opening in April are:

Liverpool 2 - King's Waterfront

Liverpool 3 - One

Manchester 5 - Piccadilly

Manchester 8 - First Street

Leeds 5 - Headingley

Leeds 8 - Birstall

Sheffield 4 - Ecclesall Road

York 3 - St Sampsons Sq

Cheshire Oaks

Abbeville Road

Abbey Road

Abingdon

Andover

Aldershot

Chelmsford

Cheltenham

Shepherds Bush

Chichester

Lincoln

Shrewsbury

Chiswick

Slough

Balham

Cobham 2 - Anyards Rd

South Woodford

Banstead

Coventry 2 - Belgrade Plaza

Kingston 1 - High St

Loughborough

Southend

Barrett St

Didsbury

Luton

Southgate

Basildon

Dulwich

Macclesfield

Stockton Heath

Basingstoke

Eastbourne

Stratford East

Bath

Eltham

Surbiton

Bedford

Esher

Mill Hill

Salisbury

Sutton 2

Belsize Park

Exeter

Milton Keynes 4 - One

Sutton Coldfield

Berkhamsted High Street

Falmouth

Muswell Hill

Tamworth

Bexleyheath

Fulham Rd 2 - (895 -896)

Newbury

Taunton

Bishops Stortford

Gabriel's Wharf - South Bank

Newquay

Tonbridge

Blackheath

Guildford

Northampton

Tunbridge Wells

Bluewater

Harborne

Paddington

Uckfield

Bracknell

Harlow

Petersfield

Walton On Thames

Braintree

Harpenden

Pimlico

Wandsworth 2 - Trinity Rd

Brighton 1 - Prince Albert St

Hastings

Poole 2 - Tower Park

West Bridgford

Brighton 2 - Brighton Marina

Haywards Heath

Portsmouth

Wilmslow

Bristol 4 - Harbourside

Hemel Hempstead

Putney

Wimbledon 1 - Village

Bromley

Horsham

Radlett

Wokingham

Bury St Edmunds

Hove

Reading 2 - Oracle

Worcester

Camberley

Ipswich 2 - Regatta Quay

Reigate

Worcester Park

Camden

Islington

Richmond

Worthing

Canterbury

Jesmond

Rugby

Castleford

Kew

Ruislip

Caterham

Kings Road - Pheasantry

Rushden Lakes