Harden's survey result
Summary
“The secret is well and truly out now” – “Carl (the owner) makes some of the best pizza in London”, selling out daily from the unpromising-looking Hammersmith boozer he was born in (near the bridge, behind Riverside studios). His ‘pies’ are “insane”, fully justifying “the hype about being the best” created by influencers including Dave Portnoy of America’s Barstool Sports and rapper Action Bronson. A former semi-pro footballer, Carl McCluskey developed his own recipe for NYC-style crisp-base pizza when he took over the Chancellors pub in – yes – Crisp Road when his grandmother retired during the pandemic. He has talked of moving to Mayfair, but as of summer 2024 was still pumping out the pizzas on home turf.
Summary
“Believe the hype… these pizzas are remarkable!” – there’s nothing gastro in appearance when it comes to this mock Tudor pub: “a proper old man’s boozer” behind Hammersmith’s Riverside Studios. But self-taught pizzaiolo Carl McCluskey has set social media ablaze with folks travelling from far and wide and queuing round the block for his NYC-inspired creations. Even Harry Kane’s a fan! It’s a homespun and quirky set-up, which can struggle under weight of numbers. In particular, “be sure to book your dough before you go!” – you can reserve your pizza (to ensure you don’t go hungry and can take out if needs be), even if tables are reserved for walk-ins only. Is it the capital’s best? Jimi Famurewa in his March 2023 Evening Standard review neatly captured the nigh-impossibility of living up to such legendary billing. “The fact that McCluskey’s slices may not instantly supersede all the other half-remembered London pizzas you have eaten – and they didn’t quite, for me – does not make them any less exceptional, rare or worth crossing town for”. (Apparently, McCluskey is now on the hunt for a more conventional central London site).
For 34 years we've been curating reviews of the UK's most notable restaurant. In a typical year, diners submit over 50,000 reviews to create the most authoritative restaurant guide in the UK. Each year, the guide is re-written from scratch based on this survey (although for the 2021 edition, reviews are little changed from 2020 as no survey could run for that year).
Have you eaten at Crisp Pizza?
The Chancellors, 25 Crisp Road, London, W6 9RL
Prices
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Wine per bottle | £30.00 |
Filter Coffee | £4.00 |
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Bread | £6.00 |
Service | 12.50% |
The Chancellors, 25 Crisp Road, London, W6 9RL
Opening hours
Monday | CLOSED |
Tuesday | CLOSED |
Wednesday | 5:30 pm‑9:30 pm |
Thursday | 5:30 pm‑9:30 pm |
Friday | 12 pm‑9:30 pm |
Saturday | 12 pm‑9 pm |
Sunday | 12 pm‑9 pm |
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