Doubt remains over 17 pizza outlets

SEVENTEEN Papa Johns stores in the East Midlands remain closed two months after the takeaway pizza chain said it planned to reopen them “soon”.

- By GEORGE PALMER-SOADY

On August 15, the chain said stores in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire had temporarily closed.

Eighteen branches were not taking online orders and when called by the Post via the numbers listed, all lines rang out or went directly to an automated voice message informing customers they were on a waiting list.

However, at the time, the chain stressed the closures were only temporary, with a spokesman from Papa Johns saying: “We are working to understand the situation and to support affected team members where possible.

“We're grateful to all of our loyal customers and plan to reopen soon”.

Yet more than two months later, the branches across the region still appear to be closed and no further update has been issued.