A pizza the action despite the licence problems

Pizza Express officially opened its first Tsim Sha Tsui location on Thursday with a casual jazz and pizza gathering hosted in style by general manager Adrien Ellul and managing director Justin Kennedy (pictured).

With the chain's increasing popularity, the two certainly have much to be happy about. However, obstacles are inevitable even on the road to success, especially when one has to deal with government bureaucrats and paper-pushing officials.

Mr Kennedy said the new Ashley Road outlet had been soft-opened since Christmas but trying to secure a liquor licence had been - typically - slow as a snail.

Still, as Mr Kennedy pointed out, it's even more annoying with another licensing issue at their Wan Chai location.

'Everyone always talks about trying to push al fresco dinning but trying to get an outdoor licence for the Star Street location is just ridiculous,' he said.

'We have two tables outside and right now if we want to serve pizza to them, we have to deliver it in a box to get around [the lack of a licence]. So, if someone sits down and orders a pizza, we bring it to them in a box with the plate inside.'