A new spate of pizzeria openings is sweeping across the country this summer – and they’re taking their inspiration from the US in general and NYC in particular as much as from Naples.
First up comes Ace Pizza, near Victorian Park in Hackney, which launches next Monday, 28 July – the first stand-alone site for Rachel Jones (pictured), who has operated Ace as a residency at Hackney’s Pembury Tavern since 2018. Ace’s menu includes specials sold by the slice from giant 20-inch New York-style pies.
Hot on Ace’s heels comes Carmela’s in Islington, which has taken over the former site of Nordic restaurant Skal on Upper Street. A co-production from the people behind Ugly Dumpling dumpling specialists of Carnaby, Fitzrovia and Brixton and Instagram-based food reviewers Bite Twice, Carmela’s promises to be a “New York-inspired pizzeria” serving “East Coast-inspired pies”, with a soft opening expected in the last days of July.
Bad Boy Pizza Society, another former residency-based outfit, makes its permanent debut in Bethnal Green on Friday 8 August, after winning National Pizza of the Year at the National Pizza Awards in both 2022 and 2024.
Following closely is the first central London opening from Crisp Pizza in Hammersmith – according to this year’s Harden’s guide, the best pizza in London – where self-taught pizzaiolo Carl McCluskey serves NYC-style pies in his grandmother’s old pub. The new branch is expected to open this summer in another pub conversion, Mayfair’s the Marlborough Head in North Audley Street.
Alley Cats Pizza, the NYC-style pizzeria that famously went viral when it made its debut in Paddington at the beginning of last year, has just announced its third branch, in Notting Hill’s Westbourne Grove. The opening date is still under wraps, but should be this summer.
Meanwhile Rudy’s, the Manchester-based pizzeria that has made a big impact since arriving in central London four years ago, is now making itself at home south of the Thames in Clapham, where it took over the former site of The Dairy in the Old Town last month and is doubling up with another branch near Clapham Junction in August.
Of course, pizza action is not confined to the capital. Up in Manchester, Detroit-style pizzeria Dough Club has recently opened its third site in Oxford Road, having launched last year as a hole-in-the-wall concept in Queen Street. Meanwhile, New York-style pizzeria Nell’s is to open its fifth site this autumn at MediaCity, Salford, complete with private karaoke booths, shuffleboard tables and a massive outdoor terrace.
In Leeds, founder Harry Pykett has just opened the second branch of his Homeboy Pizza Co in Roundhay, a year after his first bricks-and-mortar site in Burley. Harry launched Homeboy during the covid lockdown five years ago and progressed to a residency serving a choice of New Haven, New York or Detroit-style pies.
