Exeter workers blindsided as Papa John’s shuts 13 stores overnight

Dozens of workers across the South West have been left jobless and in limbo following the sudden closure of 13 Papa John’s branches, with no prior warning or clear information on pay, redundancy, or future employment.

Staff say they were informed of the overnight closures via a message from franchise owner Jabbar Khan, who described the decision to shut down the business as “incredibly difficult” and blamed “external circumstances beyond our control.”

Affected stores include Papa John’s locations in Newquay, Barnstaple, Newton Abbot, Exmouth, and several in Plymouth, with employees reporting they were told to complete inventories and hand over keys to head office representatives on Thursday 1 May.

Speaking anonymously, one Exeter-based employee said, “None of us saw this coming. We worked shifts earlier this week, and now we’re just out of a job. We haven’t even been told if we’ll be paid for the work we’ve already done.”

The message from Khan hinted that a new operator could eventually take over the stores, with staff informed that “a new party will be taking over the stores”, but some workers say they’ve been told this may not happen until September, and that they have no guarantees in the meantime.

Many were previously employed by Papa John’s under a different operator, before Khan stepped in to rescue struggling South West stores in early 2023. At the time, he was credited as the “saviour” of Papa John’s in Plymouth and beyond.

Now, just over a year later, workers say they feel abandoned, “Jabbar helped save our jobs before, but now we’re again left with no answers. We’ve heard Papa John’s head office has told people to claim Universal Credit until they find new work. That’s not good enough.”

A Papa Johns spokesperson told the North Devon Gazette: “We hold all our restaurants to the highest standards and expect our franchisees to operate with integrity and in line with our values. Following a thorough review, we have ended our relationship with this franchisee.

"While the stores are temporarily closed, we are working to secure new ownership and reopen as soon as possible. Our priority is delivering quality pizza and a great experience for our customers while supporting our teams through this transition.”

The closures come at a time when many are already struggling with the cost of living and rising rents across Devon. Employees are calling for urgent clarity on their employment status, unpaid wages, and what support will be offered during the transition.

The 13 stores currently listed as temporarily closed are:

• Barnstaple
• Newquay
• Torquay
• Newton Abbot
• Exmouth
• Plymouth – Mutley Plain
• Plymouth – St Budeaux
• Plymouth – Woolwell
• Exeter – St Thomas
• Paignton
• Bristol – Filton
• Stroud
• Cirencester