PIZZA Express expects to cut around 1,300 jobs after the number of people eating in its restaurants fell in the wake of tighter Covid restrictions.

The company said the roles would be cut from its 370 UK restaurants through both compulsory and voluntary redundancies.

It said the decision would help it manage the challenges this winter and beyond as it expects footfall to remain lower than usual.

In August, PizzaExpress said that around 1,100 jobs were at risk and the new losses come on top of this, after the latest coronavirus rules hit customer numbers.

Pizza Express branches at Southampton’s Westquay and at Bridge Street in Winchester.