Pizza Pilgrims – From Naples to Nottingham

On the 17th of April, Pizza Pilgrims opened their first pizzeria in Nottingham, with a 2,000 slice giveaway and a party celebrating the opening!

Pizza Pilgrim’s authentic, slow-proved Neapolitan pizzas, made with Italy’s finest ingredients are now available in Nottingham for the first time. Pizza Pilgrims was founded by James and Thom Elliot, who set up the brand after a “pizza pilgrimage” to Italy in 2011, where they travelled across the country in a Piaggio Ape van, sampling local pizzas and produce. 

Finding its creative heart in Nottingham 

Fittingly located on Carlton Street, Hockley, in the heart of Nottingham’s creative district, the pizzeria is housed in a unique building, once home to the city’s oldest jewellery shop.  

The venue’s statement features include a giant Piaggio Ape-shaped disco ball and a ‘Disco Toilet’ (push the ‘secret’ disco button when you visit to find out more!) as well as a ‘Dramattic’ Rave Cave, filled with costumes and featuring a screen for karaoke and FIFA. The latter can cater for up to 20 diners at a central, long dining table for both private dining and group events. In total, the new pizzeria can accommodate 80 covers, with 66 inside and an outside area of 14.  

The eclectic dining space, situated over three floors, also sports polychromatic 1970s wallpaper, 1950s light fittings and a ceiling decorated like an Amalfi lemon-grove, harking back to the golden age of Naples, while posters and artworks collected by the founders on trips to Italy, will transport diners to Naples’ trademark pizzerias and discotheques. The interior design has been led by James Elliot.  

James Elliot says “We’re so excited to be firing up our ovens and bringing our puffy-crusted Neapolitan pizzas to Nottingham! It’s such a vibrant city with an amazing music scene so we have designed a pizzeria to match. Inspired by the 1970s Italian Glam scene we’ve got Disco Toilets, a giant Tuk-Tuk mirror ball, groooovy wallpaper, and an Amalfi lemon grove-themed fancy dress event space… coming for pizza should be special and we fully intend on making this the funnest pizzeria possible!”  

Truly Neapolitan pizzas, made for Nottingham 

Brothers James and Thom Elliot famously made a pilgrimage around Italy in a Piaggio Ape van, discovering Italy’s finest pizzerias and produce along the way. Pizza Pilgrims is built on the foundation of the pilgrimage and follows the simple Italian belief that the best ingredients are essential to make the best pizza.

For this reason, many key ingredients are imported from Italy – from the best ’00’ flour Naples has to offer from the famous Caputo mill in the city centre, to their tomato sauce using only Italian tomatoes, and their mozzarella which comes from just outside Naples. Pizza Pilgrims also work closely with Harvest London, the sustainability focused hydroponic vertical farming supplier who work closely with the team to grow fresh Basil for every pizzeria, reducing wastage dramatically. 

The menu features classics like the Margherita – Mozzarella fior di latte, tomato, basil & olive oil and Salsiccia e Friarielli – Roasted Italian sausage and wild broccoletti on an olive oil base with smoked mozzarella & fresh chilli, but also includes pizzas with a twist such as their Double Pepperoni & Spicy Honey, Mushroom & Truffle or 8-cheese (because 4-cheese just isn’t enough…). Monthly guest pizzas also feature on the menu. The drinks menu also features Italian wines and beer supplies by Milton Sandford Wines, including their ‘Snazzy White’ Locanda Trebbiano, and ‘Snazzy Red’ Nijiro Nero D’Avola Tola. Beers include Ichnusa Non-Filtrata, Beavertown Neckoil IPA and Lucky Saint.  

Book a table NOW.