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 opened its restaurant at the Reading Gate Retail Park in Whitley, taking over from the Itsu sushi, noodle and soup chain.
The restaurant features a pizza and salad buffet, drinks dispensers and an ‘ice cream factory’ which its dine-in experience has become known for.
Pizza Hut was seen busy just before 1 pm on Monday, August 18, during its opening day, with diners taking advantage of the free unlimited salad.
Guests were taken to their seats at a counter and bar stocked with bottled ciders and lagers, and cans of ale.
The restaurant is open from 11.30am to 10pm during the week, and until 10.30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pizza Hut had occupied the unit for over 12 years before closing in 2021.
It was then replaced by the Itsu sushi and hot food chain in August of that year.
Although Itsu had a busy opening, the franchise came in for criticism after heaps of rubbish was spotted outside the eatery.
Pizza Hut also vacated its restaurant at The Oracle Riverside in 2022, leaving only the takeaway and delivery locations in Oxford Road and Shinfield Road.
There are questions over whether the company requires planning permission for its advertising and a premises licence for the sale of alcohol from Reading Borough Council.
It is possible that advertising has been returned to signage that was approved by the council’s planning department during a rebrand in 2016.
