Following the news that Pizza Hut in High Wycombe will close in favour of a fifth McDonald’s branch in the town, the outgoing chain has done its bit to help a local charity.

It was confirmed at the start of this week [September 23] that nearly 130 pizza restaurants across the country will close for good after its franchise owner, the EYM Group, filed for bankruptcy.

Many residents have shared their sadness that the branch, which was based in the Wycombe Retail Park along London Road/Ryemead Way, will be no more, as plans to replace the restaurant with McDonald’s are well underway.

The food was donated to the Wycombe Food HubThe food was donated to the Wycombe Food Hub (Image: Wycombe Food Hub)

However, those based at Pizza Hut wanted to do their bit for the local community before they closed their doors for good.

On September 26, the branch donated numerous food items to the Wycombe Food Hub to help the less fortunate.

Donations included vegetables and tinned goods.

A statement from the Food Hub’s Facebook page reads: “Big shoutout to Pizza Hut for their generosity in donating their shut-down stock.

“Your kindness makes a difference and goes a long way in supporting the community.

“We were able to share it with Church of Shalom and Wrights Meadow Centre who we work with in Wycombe Marsh and Micklefield.”

For more information on the work the Wycombe Food Hub do, go to www.wycombefoodhub.org.

Out goes the pizza, in come the burgers

A spokesperson for Pizza Hut has confirmed that they have ‘dotted the i's and crossed the t's’ from their end – apologising to customers for ‘any inconvenience caused’ by the closure.

They added: “If you are looking for a dine-in restaurant and our famous buffet, our Bracknell restaurant is a short drive away, or alternatively, customers can also dine in at another nearby restaurant in Hayes Retail Park or order from our website.”

What the McDonald's could look likeWhat the McDonald's could look like (Image: NA)

Alan Butchers, franchisee owner of the town's four existing McDonald's branches, dodged controversy over the proliferation of outlets in Wycombe while speaking to the Free Press at the beginning of the month, saying he was ‘excited to bring significant investment and create up to 60 full and part-time jobs’ at the new site.

Since then, images of what the new McDonald’s in the town could look like have been revealed, with applications for a redesigned shopfront and those famous golden arches submitted to Buckinghamshire Council this month.

Franchise owner, Alan Butcher, who oversees Wycombe's four other McDonald's branches, on the High Street, Dovecot Road, Holmers Farm Way and Crest Road, said he was looking forward to ‘bringing significant investment and up to 60 full and part-time jobs’ to the new site.

He said: “We look forward to further contributing to the local community, continuing the fantastic work done in our other High Wycombe restaurants including daily litter picks and fundraising for Ronald McDonald House Charities.