The iconic pizzeria has opened a new mini restaurant near Finsbury Park Station but was forced to back down on plans for a 2am closing time
A new fast-food Pizza Express outlet has opened in Islington amid backlash from some residents over late-night disturbance.
The pizza franchise is continuing its rollout of restaurants with self-ordering systems, launching its second mini unit in a former warehouse in Finsbury Park on Thursday (June 25). Customers can order their pizzas, salads and doughballs from touchscreen kiosks to take away, with a handful of seats for indoor dining.
Sitting behind Finsbury Park Station on the corner of Wells Terrace and Fonthill Road, the restaurant is open from 11am to 11pm on weekdays (5pm closing time on Tuesdays) and from 11am to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. The launch follows the opening of a similar ‘Quick Service Restaurant’ in Brixton in May, with plans for another site in Earl’s Court next.
Pizza Express had originally wanted to stay open and sell alcohol and hot food until 2am on weekends, but residents from a nearby street pushed back as they raised concerns about the fast food restaurant adding to “significant late-night noise and disruption”.
The franchise’s representatives later reduced the operating hours to show their “commitment to being a responsible operator and a positive neighbour within the Finsbury Park community”. Pizza Express has also committed to several licensing conditions to calm residents’ concerns over potential disturbance and antisocial behaviour.
Islington councillors discussed the licensing conditions at a committee on Tuesday, June 23, and a final decision on the licence terms is yet to be confirmed.
However, the launch went ahead on Thursday (June 25) marked by the offer of 100 free Margherita pizzas between 6pm and 8pm, for collection only, though according to the chain’s website no alcohol is on sale.
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