A FAMILY favourite restaurant chain with 70 branches is to close its original site after 15 years, but it's not all bad news for fans.
Franco Manca opened its first restaurant in Brixton, London, in 2008 and it now operates 70 branches across the UK.
In a surprise move, the popular chain has confirmed it is set to close its original restaurant.
But fans upset by the loss will be thrilled to learn they will be getting a brand new and bigger site in the coming weeks.
In a post on Facebook, the restaurant said: "If you’re a real Franco aficionado, you’ll know that our first ever pizzeria opened in Brixton Market in 2008.
"After 15 years of serving up delicious pizzas and creating unforgettable memories, we have slowly outgrown this site, so we're excited to announce that we're moving to a much bigger space just down the road!"
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An exact date for the closure is yet to be confirmed and The Sun has asked Franco Manca for more information.
Fans were quick to comment, with one social media user writing: "The restaurant needs to be kept – this is your history."
Writing on X, formerly known as Twitter, another fan said: "Very sad Franco Manca in Brixton is closing."
Another tweeted: "In all seriousness, this is sad."
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And a third added: "Noticing a lot more retail and restaurant closures of late."
It comes after the owner of Franco Manca and The Real Greek was bought out in a £93million takeover deal.
Fulham Shore swapped hands with Japanese company Toridoll, which is worth £1.5billion and owns 5,500 stores globally.
The group said it plans to open six new UK restaurants across both brands in the 12 months ending March 2024 – but it's yet to confirm where.
More high street closures
Inflation remains stubbornly high meaning households have less expendable cash to burn.
Increased energy and wage costs are piling further pressure on businesses, including those in the hospitality sector.
Hospitality chiefs warned that ten thousand pubs were at risk of closing if the Chancellor failed to extend business rates relief in his Autumn Statement.
But landlords and landladies at boozers all over Britain gave three cheers to The Sun last week, when alcohol duty was frozen.
Jeremy Hunt acknowledged our brilliant Save Our Sups campaign in decided to freeze alcohol duty and keep a 75% cut in business rates for an extra year.
Retailers on the high street have been hit hard too.
Cath Kidston, Paperchase, M&Co and popular discounter Wilko have all crashed into administration this year.
Wilko has since announced plans to return to the high street, with branches in Plymouth, Exeter and Luton set to open within weeks.
On Monday, Paperchase reopened inside 250 Tesco supermarkets in June M&Co relaunched online.
A number of retailers have been opening branches as well as closing them too.
In July, B&M announced plans to open seven new branches in the UK over the following weeks.
Bargain discounter Poundland is taking on former Wilko sites as well.
And The Cornish Bakery said in September it would be looking to open five new stores over the following months.
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