Food chain Prezzo has announced it is axing 46 loss-making restaurants and cutting 810 jobs, including the closure of the Beccles restaurant.

The Italian restaurant chain has had a branch in the former Beccles Cinema building in Saltgate for close to two decades.

Prezzo moved into the former cinema, purpose-built in 1914, in the mid-2000s, more than 40 years after the cinema closed, and following spells as a furniture store and antique centre.

The Italian restaurant group said the closures come after utility costs rocketed by more than double.

Bosses at the private equity-owned businesses said the cuts, which are part of a broader strategic review, will affect sites where “the post-Covid recovery has proved harder than we had hoped”.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Evening shot of Prezzo, Saltgate, Beccles - Prezzo fell into administration in late 2020 after the heavy impact of the pandemic, before being snapped up by current private equity owners Cain International Evening shot of Prezzo, Saltgate, Beccles - Prezzo fell into administration in late 2020 after the heavy impact of the pandemic, before being snapped up by current private equity owners Cain International (Image: Newsquest)

Staff were informed about the closures on Monday morning, with a consultation process launched.

During the ongoing consultation process, an official date for the Beccles branch's closure is yet to be announced.

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Beccles & Bungay Journal: In 2007 the Beccles Society presented an award to Prezzo's restaurant for their sensitive development of the former cinema building in the town. In 2007 the Beccles Society presented an award to Prezzo's restaurant for their sensitive development of the former cinema building in the town. (Image: Angela Sharpe)

Dean Challenger, chief executive of Prezzo, said: “The last three years have been some of the hardest times I have ever seen for the high street and I’m extremely proud of the way our colleagues have retained Prezzo’s position as an appealing, trusted, great value food and drink experience.

“But the reality is that the cost-of-living crisis, the changing face of the high street and soaring inflation has made it impossible to keep all our restaurants operating profitably.

“We believe the tough decisions we are making today will ensure Prezzo can continue serving communities with high-quality, accessible Italian-inspired meals for many more years to come.”

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Prezzo has sites a number of sites around Norfolk and Suffolk, including in Norwich's Tombland, Ipswich, Stowmarket and Aldeburgh.

The Stowmarket restaurant was among the 46 restaurants announced to close.

The shake-up will leave the hospitality chain with 97 restaurants and about 2,000 staff.

Beccles & Bungay Journal: Picture of Prezzo's interior in the old cinema in BecclesPicture of Prezzo's interior in the old cinema in Beccles (Image: Angela Sharpe)