Mixed reactions over Pizza Express plans for Ludlow

Upmarket firm Pizza Express has applied to take over The Marches pub and restaurant, formerly The George Inn, in the heart of Ludlow's Castle Square.

But not everyone is welcoming the idea.

Tish Dockerty, secretary of Ludlow Chamber of Commerce, said her opinion the town did not need a Pizza Express, and she feared it may threaten independent businesses.

"I feel it's not necessary," she added. "There are so many places to eat in the evening now that competition is quite stiff.

"We do have an independent pizza place literally round the corner, (Pizza Ten on Quality Square) and Wildwood at De Grey's do pizza.

"It's nothing you can't get in town already, so it won't be extending our food offer and Pizza Express is unlikely to use local products – though I'm sure customers will ask them to."

And Andy Boddington, Shropshire Councillor for Ludlow North, said: "I like Pizza Express, but I can't ignore that this is also another intrusive national brand coming to our town of independent traders."

The building Pizza Express wants to take over is owned by Punch Taverns, but the firm has been looking for a new landlord to take over for some months.

The company has applied to Shropshire Council for a premises licence for the business, which will be known as Pizza Express at The Marches.

The application seeks permission to serve alcohol from 11am to midnight Monday to Sunday, with non-alcoholic drinks available to 12.30am.

Tish Dockerty said Wildwood, which took over the former De Grey's tea rooms, is also a chain restaurant, though not on the scale of Pizza Express.

She said Wildwood had been sensitive to the idiosyncrasies of Ludlow, keeping the name and delicatessen of the former De Grey's tea rooms.

It had also made a point of using local produce - for which the branch had been awarded 'Local to Ludlow' status.

However, she said Pizza Express was not known for doing such things.

And Councillor Boddington added: "In recent years we have seen Costa, WH Smiths, Fat Face and Crewe invade.

"In a unique town like ours, national chains fail to sparkle against the local provision, but they do attract customers, especially visitors lured by the huge advertising campaigns of the major chains.

"But if we get more national brands moving in, Ludlow will become nothing other than a clone shopping town with historic buildings attached."

However, he said, there were no planning powers to block the arrival of such chains.

The George Inn, a pub with a sports bar theme, underwent a major refurbishment and re-opened as The Marches Bar and Kitchen under the management of Richard Slater and Lisa Grant in 2013.

However, the couple recently had to give up the business for personal reasons and it has been under temporary management ever since.

A spokesman for Pizza Express said: "Castle Square is an exceptionally picturesque area and we're very excited about creating a beautiful design to complement the building and its immediate surroundings – something we always aim to achieve when working with buildings of historic importance, and something that our founder, Peter Boizot, has always been passionate about.

"This year we're celebrating 50 years since Peter opened the first PizzaExpress and are looking forward to bringing to Ludlow our fresh, handmade pizzas and new job opportunities."