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At one time, the popular pizza chain was the go-to for families and friends to indulge in its all-you-can-eat buffet, help-yourself greens station, and ice cream with toppings.

But not as many patrons are choosing the chain these days, and it is closing half of its UK outlets after being bought out of administration for the second time this calendar year.

It was common to visit Pizza Hut when I was a child,” notes Prudence. “It was a regular outing, you'd go on a Sunday – make a day of it.” However, at present, aged 24, she says “it's no longer popular.”

For 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 seems as if they are cutting corners and have inferior offerings... They offer so much food and you're like ‘How can they?’”

As food prices have soared, Pizza Hut's buffet-style service has become increasingly pricey to operate. The same goes for its outlets, which are being sliced from 132 to just over 60.

The chain, like many others, has also faced its expenses go up. Earlier this year, employee wages increased due to higher minimum pay and an rise in employer social security payments.

Two diners say they would often visit at Pizza Hut for a date “every now and then”, but now they get delivery from a rival chain and think Pizza Hut is “not good value”.

According to your selection, Pizza Hut and Domino's rates are similar, notes a food expert.

While Pizza Hut does offer takeaway and deliveries through external services, it is falling behind to larger chains which solely cater to off-premise dining.

“Domino's has succeeded in leading the takeaway pizza sector thanks to aggressive marketing and frequent offers that make shoppers feel like they're getting a bargain, when in reality the standard rates are on the higher side,” explains the expert.

But for Chris and Joanne it is acceptable to get their evening together delivered to their door.

“We absolutely dine at home now rather than we eat out,” says Joanne, reflecting current figures that show a decrease in people going to quick-service eateries.

In the warmer season, informal dining venues saw a 6% drop in patrons compared to the previous year.

There is also a further alternative to ordered-in pies: the frozen or fresh pizza.

Will Hawkley, head of leisure and hospitality at an advisory group, explains that not only have supermarkets been providing good-standard prepared pies for quite a while – some are even selling home-pizza ovens.

“Evolving preferences are also playing a factor in the success of quick-service brands,” comments the analyst.

The rising popularity of protein-rich eating plans has boosted sales at chicken shops, while reducing sales of carb-heavy pizza, he notes.

As people dine out more rarely, they may prefer a more premium experience, and Pizza Hut's retro theme with comfortable booths and red and white checked plastic table cloths can feel more retro than luxurious.

The “explosion of high-quality pizzerias” over the last several years, including new entrants, has “fundamentally changed the consumer view of what good pizza is,” notes the culinary analyst.

“A thin, flavorful, gentle crust with a select ingredients, not the overly oily, dense and piled-high pizzas of the past. That, I think, is what's caused Pizza Hut's decline,” she says.

“Why would anyone spend nearly eighteen pounds on a modest, low-quality, underwhelming pizza from a franchise when you can get a stunning, expertly crafted traditional pie for under a tenner at one of the many authentic Italian pizzerias around the country?

“It's a no-brainer.”

Dan Puddle, who operates a pizza van based in a county in England says: “People haven’t fallen out of love with pizza – they just want improved value.”

The owner says his adaptable business can offer high-quality pie at reasonable rates, and that Pizza Hut struggled because it could not keep up with evolving tastes.

From the perspective of a small pizza brand in a UK location, the founder says the pizza market is expanding but Pizza Hut has not provided anything new.

“Currently available are by-the-slice options, London pizza, thin crust, fermented dough, wood-fired, rectangular – it's a delightful challenge for a pie fan to discover.”

Jack says Pizza Hut “needs to reinvent itself” as newer generations don't have any sense of nostalgia or loyalty to the company.

Gradually, Pizza Hut's share has been fragmented and spread to its fresher, faster rivals. To keep up its high labor and location costs, it would have to increase costs – which industry analysts say is tough at a time when family finances are tightening.

The leadership of Pizza Hut's global operations said the buyout aimed “to safeguard our guest experience and protect jobs where possible”.

It was explained its first focus was to keep running at the remaining 64 restaurants and delivery sites and to assist staff through the transition.

However with significant funds going into running its restaurants, it likely can't afford to allocate significant resources in its delivery service because the sector is “difficult and working with existing delivery apps comes at a expense”, experts say.

Still, experts suggest, lowering overhead by leaving competitive urban areas could be a good way to adjust.