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Pizza Express has released a list of the 73 restaurants which it plans to permanently close across the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, with the potential loss of 1,100 jobs.

The company announced it was set to make closures on August 4, when it first outlined plans for a CVA in a bid to stay afloat as it works through a "significantly more challenging environment" during the coronavirus pandemic.

The company, which currently has around 454 restaurants in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ, said it has finalised now finalised its proposal to reduce its restaurant and rental costs via a (CVA).

It said that although the majority of its restaurants were profitable before lockdown was imposed, earnings had been declining across the Pizza Express estate for the last three years.

It added that the reduction in revenue caused by the enforced closure of all restaurants, the cost of reopening and the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's uncertain economic future meant its rental costs were no longer sustainable.

Pizza Express, which is majority owned by Chinese firm Hony Capital, also confirmed it had hired advisers from Lazard to lead a sale process for the business.

It said it would hold a virtual meeting for its creditors on September 4 to seek approval for the measures set out in the CVA.

Zoe Bowley, Pizza Express's managing director for the º£½ÇÊÓƵ and Ireland, said: "Unfortunately, the impact of the global pandemic has meant that we have had to make some incredibly tough decisions to safeguard Pizza Express for the long term.