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In the past, Pizza Hut was the top choice for parents and children to feast on its all-you-can-eat buffet, help-yourself greens station, and self-serve ice-cream.

Yet a declining number of diners are visiting the chain currently, and it is reducing half of its UK locations after being acquired following financial trouble for the second instance this calendar year.

“We used to go Pizza Hut when I was a child,” explains Prudence. “It was a regular outing, you'd go on a Sunday – spend the whole day there.” However, at present, as a young adult, she says “it's not a thing anymore.”

In the view of young customer Martina, some of the very things Pizza Hut has been recognized for since it launched in the UK in the seventies are now not-so-hot.

“The way they do their buffet and their salad station, it feels like they are cutting corners and have lower standards... They're giving away so much food and you're like ‘How can they?’”

As food prices have soared, Pizza Hut's all-you-can-eat model has become quite costly to maintain. The same goes for its restaurants, which are being cut from over 130 to 64.

The company, in common with competitors, has also faced its operating costs increase. In April this year, employee wages increased due to higher minimum pay and an rise in employer taxes.

Chris, 36, and Joanne, 29 mention they frequently dined at Pizza Hut for a date “every now and then”, but now they get delivery from another pizza brand and think Pizza Hut is “very overpriced”.

Based on your selection, Pizza Hut and Domino's costs are similar, explains a culinary author.

While Pizza Hut has pickup and delivery through third-party apps, it is falling behind to big rivals which specialize to the delivery sector.

“Domino's has succeeded in leading the takeaway pizza sector thanks to intensive advertising and constantly running deals that make shoppers feel like they're saving money, when in reality the base costs are quite high,” says the analyst.

Yet for these customers it is worth it to get their evening together brought to their home.

“We absolutely dine at home now instead of we eat out,” comments one of the diners, echoing recent statistics that show a decline in people frequenting casual and fast-food restaurants.

In the warmer season, informal dining venues saw a notable decrease in customers compared to last summer.

Moreover, a further alternative to restaurant and takeaway pizzas: the frozen or fresh pizza.

An industry leader, head of leisure and hospitality at a leading firm, notes that not only have supermarkets been providing good-standard oven-ready pizzas for a long time – some are even selling home-pizza ovens.

“Lifestyle changes are also having an impact in the success of casual eateries,” states Mr. Hawkley.

The increased interest of low-carb regimens has increased sales at poultry outlets, while hitting sales of dough-based meals, he notes.

Because people visit restaurants not as often, they may seek out a more upscale outing, and Pizza Hut's American-diner style with vinyl benches and nostalgic table settings can feel more retro than upmarket.

The rise of high-quality pizzerias” over the last 10 to 15 years, including boutique chains, has “dramatically shifted the consumer view of what excellent pie is,” says the food expert.

“A crisp, airy, digestible pizza with a few choice toppings, not the massively greasy, heavy and overloaded pizzas of the past. That, I think, is what's led to Pizza Hut's decline,” she says.

“What person would spend nearly eighteen pounds on a tiny, mediocre, unsatisfying pizza from a franchise when you can get a beautiful, masterfully-made Margherita for under a tenner at one of the many traditional pizzerias around the country?

“The decision is simple.”

A mobile pizza vendor, who owns a pizza van based in Suffolk explains: “People haven’t lost interest in pizza – they just want higher quality at a fair price.”

Dan says his mobile setup can offer gourmet pizza at reasonable rates, and that Pizza Hut faced challenges because it failed to adapt with evolving tastes.

At an independent chain in a city in southwest England, the proprietor says the pizza market is broadening but Pizza Hut has neglected to introduce anything new.

“There are now slice concepts, London pizza, thin crust, artisan base, traditional Italian, deep-dish – it's a delightful challenge for a pizza-loving consumer to explore.”

He says Pizza Hut “should transform” as the youth don't have any emotional connection or allegiance to the brand.

Over time, Pizza Hut's market has been divided and allocated to its more modern, agile competitors. To sustain its costly operations, it would have to charge more – which commentators say is tough at a time when household budgets are decreasing.

The managing director of Pizza Hut's overseas branches said the buyout aimed “to protect our customer service and retain staff where possible”.

He said its first focus was to continue operating at the remaining 64 restaurants and off-premise points and to assist staff through the change.

However with significant funds going into maintaining its outlets, it may be unable to allocate significant resources in its delivery service because the market is “complex and working with existing third-party platforms comes at a cost”, experts say.

But, he adds, lowering overhead by exiting crowded locations could be a good way to evolve.