Shoe shop takes a slice of Pizza Hut's stake in Capital

PIZZA Hut is set to reduce its presence in the city centre to make way for an Italian restaurant and a shoe store.

Two separate applications were lodged this week to turn the pizza chain's restaurants on Castle Street and Frederick Street into a Strada restaurant and a Size? shoe store.

The Strada chain, owned by Tragus Group which also owns Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge, has over 70 restaurants in England. Castle Street will be its first Scottish restaurant.

It has applied to combine the Pizza Hut and upstairs Orchid Lodge Cantonese restaurant into a single restaurant.

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut said: "We're continually evaluating the location of our restaurants to ensure they are in the best areas to meet demand.

"Our leases at Frederick Street and Castle Street are ending soon, and we have taken the decision to leave both sites. We will still have a strong presence in Edinburgh, and all team members will be offered positions at our other restaurants."