PIZZA Express seems in danger of being the next big name high street casualty following reports of crisis talks.

The chain, which has branches in Stourbridge, Bromsgrove and at the Merry Hill centre is reported to be holding talks with creditors.

Company accounts show the group, which has hundreds of restaurants nationwide has debts of more than £1bn.

Rising costs and difficult trading conditions, including the rise in popularity of online food delivery services are being blamed for the company's problems.

Financial advisory company Langton Capital, which specialises in the leisure sector is reporting on social media that talks about the future of Pizza Express are set to begin.

 

The popular high street chain was founded in 1965 by Peter Bizot who sold the business in 1993 for a reported £33m.

Mr Bizot died last year aged 89 having given awaya or lost all of his fortune after he invested heavily in troubled Peterborough United FC and other unsuccessful business ventures.