22 replies to this topic

[Nanazola]

Our dearly beloved Pizza Express seems to have been replaced by 'Pizza in the Palace'. Sounds like a new business - until you read the strapline, which is something like 'Serving the local area since 1989'. Is it PE or isn't it?

[claudia]

I saw the same thing just yesterday and was equally confused!

They certainly kept it very quiet, they must've snuck the new sign up overnight.

I googled the restaurant and found this post on a sydenham forum:

We went there before Christmas and the Manager is pulling out of the Pizza Express franchise. It seems the greedy lot at Head Office wanted it to become a full Pizza Express chain restaurant, but the Manager wouldn't give it up! He said that in the New Year (ie. now) it will become "Pizza at the Palace".


So it might be even better than pizza express! It also explains why it looks almost identical inside and out. Haven't checked the menu though.

[Bosie]

Sounds like a win win situation. All the benefits of a pizza express with the added bonus of the "we don't do 'chains' much round here" bragging factor.

[philipburgoyne]

but are they doing the £10 voucher deal??? beckenham was overflowing yesterday

[MattVN]

On Nick's advice I started a new review thread if it's changed over. I'm hungry for pizza all of a sudden.
http://www.virtualno...?showtopic=6985

[Spoon]

Sounds like a win win situation. All the benefits of a pizza express with the added bonus of the "we don't do 'chains' much round here" bragging factor.

Not sure about this. Not all chains are bad.

[Bosie]

Not sure about this. Not all chains are bad.

No they are not. And nowhere in my post did I say they were!

One of the things people like about the triangle is that it is not filled just with chain stores. The independent stores are good and interesting enough and offer the right sorts of products so there is often no need for them.

[Dazza]

Pizza Express to me is tired old brand to me if this is going to be a private establishment it needs to loose the old corporate image.

It would need to raise its game a lot before i would vistit it instead of Lorenzo's though.

Dazza

[Spoon]

No they are not. And nowhere in my post did I say they were!

One of the things people like about the triangle is that it is not filled just with chain stores. The independent stores are good and interesting enough and offer the right sorts of products so there is often no need for them.

I know you didn't say they were! I took your point and was putting my own thought in. Personally, I think the triangle could do with a couple of big names to give it a "not forgotten" lift. Not to compete with the independents but something. Maybe now Westow News has gone, a Smiths would be handy, for example. Nothing has matched Westow News' selection yet.

I think Pizza Express is alright. Better that than a cheap clothes shop or something.

I suspect I've really put my hand in the fire now!

[Rosehip]

Ooh er, Spoon. What are you saying? \:-\o WHSmiths = books.

Not sure that our fantastic indie bookseller would find that so helpful (especially as our Sainsbury's seems to have reneged on its position not to stock books)...

R

Edited by Rosehip, 13 February 2009 - 12:57 PM.

[Spoon]

Not the books, just the newsagent side. Like the little Smiths, not the hulking ones.

[Nanazola]

I'm with Spoon - some chains do bring a bit of commercial credibility to an area, and I think Pizza Express is one of them. That's not to say I don't support the MBO or whatever it was that's resulted in Pizza at the Palace, just that I really liked Pizza Express, their pizzas were delicious and the service pleasantly efficient. If the new guard can do better, good on 'em and I'll certainly give them a try. But I'll still miss Pizza Express, which wasn't a tired old brand to me and sat happily alongside Lorenzo's as a great place for families.

[RachelF]

Had lunch there on Saturday. The only thing that's changed is their name. I hope they eventually have the courage to sneak something different onto the menu.

[SallyClaire]

I was concerned at the loss of Pizza Express which has been a staple fall-back option to me over the years. However, I went to Pizza in the Palace on Friday night and the menu is the same or even better as there seems to be more choice. The usual PE favourites are there although cheekily renamed eg a Sloppy Giuseppe is a Sloppy Joe!

They seemed to be accepting Pizza Express vouchers too but I can't say that for certain as I didn't have one.

[gekko]

I was wondering what they'd be doing with the pizza names if they are essentially keeping the same menu!