Restaurant chain Pizza Hut is to open in Douglas, it has been confirmed.
Alex Barlow of Vision Media, who is the marketing executive for the franchise, told the Isle of Man Courier: ‘It’s definitely coming, despite everyone thinking it’s a rumour.’
He said the owner was a conglomerate, Reims Limited, which is behind Coffee Republic, in the capital’s Victoria Street, and Bar George, in Hill Street.
It’s due to open in November but he couldn’t give the precise location because the deal ‘hasn’t been fully signed off’.
Mr Barlow said it was too early to say how many staff would be employed at Pizza Hut, saying: ‘There’s two different routes we could go down – it could either be a take-away or a sit-in.’
Facebook page ‘Pizza Hut Douglas’ was set up on Wednesday and, as the Courier went to press, had more than 2,000 supporters.
It says: ‘Thank you for your patience and co-operation, we will make announcements as they are confirmed to us.’
Suggestions for Manx pizza toppings include queenies, kippers, Loaghtan lamb and chips, cheese and gravy.
While it looks as if an international franchise will be opening in the island, our love of pizza has already been exported to the UK thanks to The Real Man Pizza Company, in London. There, pizza names include Port Soderick Smoked Salmon and Manx Queenie.
Another international pizza brand, Domino’s, already operates a takeaway and delivery service in Douglas.
In the UK in 2007, Pizza Hut was criticised for the high salt content of its meals, some of which were found to contain more than twice the daily recommended amount of salt for an adult.
