Plans submitted for new city centre pizza restaurant

An empty Joules shop in Lincoln is set to be turned into a new pizza restaurants, plans submitted to the city council have revealed.

Franco Manca hopes to open at 294 High Street, after Joules moved to the Cornhill Quarter.

Banks Long & Co have been working for several weeks with the Neapolitan pizza company to secure a site in a prominent position on Lincoln’s High Street.

Tim Bradford, managing director of Banks Long & Co, said: “We are delighted to have another premium business coming to the City. We have seen other national companies selecting Lincoln in recent years and finding that their sites are quickly becoming some of their highest performing sites in the country.”

He added: “Attracting such a prominent brand to Lincoln’s High Street proves how attractive it is and will help it to continue to thrive. We also take great satisfaction knowing that every brand we bring to the City boosts local employment, which in itself helps the city to prosper.”

Started in 1986 in Brixton Market Francos was named after the owner. In 2008, he handed ownership to his friend Giuseppe Mascoli and Bridget Hugo, an artisan baker. They called it Franco Manca (Italian for “Franco is missing”) in homage to Franco’s hard work.

Chairman of Franco Manca David Page said: “We are delighted to open in Lincoln, we love the city, and we are certain that the City will love our sourdough pizzas in return. We will announce our opening date in due course, and we look forward to welcoming guests very soon.”