Gondola Group buys Soho Pizzeria

Gondola Group, owner of the PizzaExpress, Zizzi and ASK brands, has bought the iconic Soho Pizzeria in London's West End.

Gondola, which will lease the 4,000sq ft site at a rent of £300,000 per year and which paid a substantial premium for the business, plans to retain the identity of the Soho Pizzeria brand within its portfolio. The venue comprises a café, restaurant and bar that plays host to live musicians.

"Soho Pizzeria is an institution in central London, it is located on one of the best corners in Soho so bidding was fierce for our client's business," said Nick Weir, director at Shelley Sandzer, who advised Soho Pizzeria on the deal.

"The story has come full circle as one of the owners of Soho Pizzeria is Peter Boizot who started PizzaExpress back in 1965; and now, Gondola Group, which owns PizzaExpress, today has bought the business."

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By Kerstin Kühn

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