London Pub's Fusion Marinara Pizza Crowned Best in UK

In a surprising twist, a £12 marinara pizza served at a pub in London's East End has been crowned the best in the UK. The 14-inch offering from Short Road Pizza, which operates out of Colts Tavern in Bethnal Green and William The Fourth in Leyton, took the top accolade at the National Pizza Awards this week.

The win may alarm traditionalists and Italians, as the pizza is a hybrid between Chicago deep dish and Romana styles, and is served with chimichurri - an Argentinian sauce typically used on steak. However, the pizza's unique flavor profile, which includes a tomato sauce and garlic puree base, stracciatella, and Cantabrian anchovies, has clearly won over the expert judges.

Following a live cooking showdown, Chef Riccardo Demuru beat 15 other restaurants to win the top prize, including major chains like Zizzi, Pizza Pilgrims, and Rudy's. The pizzas were judged on a range of factors, including base, flavor profile, presentation, texture, quality, consistency, and ingredients.

Short Road Pizza, known for its American-inspired fusion pies, also won the Alternative Slice Award for a creative plant-based recipe made from a range of free-from products. The duo behind the pub, Ugo Galelli and Kate Prior, have been on a journey since launching the concept during the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, and are now celebrating this prestigious national recognition.