A pizza chain that had no restaurants in Reading for years has made its return to the town with its opening at a busy retail park.
Pizza Hut has made its much-anticipated return to Reading, opening a new restaurant at the Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley. This comes after a long absence, having closed its doors in 2021.
The new eatery replaced the Itsu sushi chain and features a pizza and salad buffet, drinks dispensers, and an ‘ice cream factory’ that diners love.
On its opening day, Monday, August 18, the restaurant was buzzing with customers enjoying free unlimited salad. Diners were seated at a counter stocked with a variety of bottled ciders and lagers.
Pizza Hut’s opening hours are 11.30am to 10pm on weekdays, extending to 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Previously, Pizza Hut had occupied the same location for over 12 years before its closure.
Itsu's brief tenure was marred by complaints about rubbish outside the restaurant, and Pizza Hut also vacated its Oracle Riverside location in 2022, leaving only takeaway and delivery options in the area.
There are ongoing questions about whether Pizza Hut needs new planning permission for advertising and a premises licence for alcohol sales, as it may have reverted to signage approved during its 2016 rebrand.
James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter
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