Pizza Express opens at the Quays
SHOPPERS will be able to grab a pizza the action after the award-winning £300 million Gloucester Quays centre opened its first restaurant.
Pizza Express opened its doors at the docklands complex yesterday morning.
The start of phase two of the Quays project comes as the designer outlet centre celebrates picking up a special commendation at an award ceremony earlier this week.
Pizza Express will be joined by Portuguese chain Nandos and Thai restaurant Kinnaree in the next few weeks.
The restaurant's manager Andy Jones said: "We have been working hard for the past few days to get ready for the opening. We are just looking forward to a busy Christmas period now, we have had lots of interest from people already."
The restaurant can seat up to 101 people indoors, with room for 60 seats outside in warmer weather.
Mike Walker, 56, from Gloucester, was shopping when he noticed the opening. He said: "It's about time they got some restaurants down here, it will bring in more people if they know they can eat as well as do their shopping."
Jayne Windsor, 62, from Barnwood, agreed.
She said: "I am really pleased to see it open, it is great to have a good quality restaurant down here, I'll be even more pleased when there are other bars and restaurants there as well."
Richard Rawlings, centre manager at the Quays, welcomed the opening.
He said: "Pizza Express is a welcome addition, complementing the existing coffee shops, and we are sure that it will prove popular with families, friends and couples alike.
"The late-night opening is sure to be a hit, particularly with Christmas shoppers."
The opening comes just a day after the shopping centre picked up a special commendation at an influential awards ceremony.
The British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) awards are seen as the pinnacle of retail awards.
The Quays centre was handed the commendation in the Out-of-Town Retail Scheme category at the ceremony held in the Grosvenor House Hotel in London earlier this week.
The judges described the development as clever and creative and said has invigorated the older, neglected buildings in the Quays area.
Centre director Franco Muccini, who collected the award on behalf of Gloucester Quays, said: "This is a fantastic accolade.
"The cream of retail schemes around the country enters these awards and to be acknowledged for our work and so early into the development is a great achievement."
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by Amanda, Dorset
Thursday, March 04 2010, 7:38PM
“I have to agree with the previous comment - we were warned there was a 25 minute wait (the manager disputed this later and said he warned it would be a 45 minute wait) in fact it turned out to be and hour and a half. I didn't mind too much as I was enjoying the wine and surroundings, but my friend had an early start the next day and wasn't amused!”
by ellie godwin, quedgeley
Thursday, January 07 2010, 2:00AM
“I visited Pizza express on the Saturday after they opened.
I was shocked by the poor food which took nearly 45 minutes after ordering to arrive, our starters didn't even materialise!
I often visit other Pizza Express but was disappointed with my visit to the quays branch as my food was substandard and there were also a lot of staff just standing around chatting...
On the plus side the service was excellent but I will not be returning to the Gloucester branch :(”
by Glos Girl, Gloucester
Tuesday, December 15 2009, 6:47PM
“I finally got to use my Tesco vouchers today in this new eating place. My husband (wheelchair user), son and myself had a really good meal, staff were very friendly and helpful and the decor is lovely. We all thought the experience was very pleasant and will return for more. Don't knock it till you've tried it all you "ney sayers".”
by Michael King, Quedgeley
Monday, December 07 2009, 4:29PM
“Lower the tone? have ever been to a pizza express fi anything it is a bit posh and more suited to cheltenham you really cant compare it to mcdonalds or burger king, pizza hut etc. I look forward to eating here anyway =]”
by Me, In the trade
Sunday, December 06 2009, 6:15PM
“I blame Cowell et al for the population not being able to work out percentages anymore.
If a pizza bought for £3.99 retails at £8.00 the profit margin is 42.7% once VAT is taken into consideration. Salads and desserts that achieve a 100% profit margin will have to have been bought in for free.
Gross profit percentage is (cost price/retail price) - (1 X 100).
Btw; if you are going to eat at Pizza Express make sure you tip the team cash, and not credit card, as they're one of the Companies who were keeping credit card tips instead of paying them onto the staff, and then when they did pay them, they deducted an 8% handling charge prior to the employee paying Tax and NI on their tips. Tight as.”