Are these the best pizzas in the UK?

The top 16 chefs for the National Pizza Awards have been announced, with the live cook-off set to take place 12 November

The National Pizza Awards will return to London’s Big Penny Social on Tuesday 12 November, where 16 talented chefs from across the hospitality sector will take part in a live cooking showdown to decide which business offers the UK’s finest pizza.

This year’s stellar line-up includes a mix of beloved high-street names and up-and-coming independents. Attendees can expect fast-expanding favourites Pizza Pilgrims to go head-to-head with the likes of Mission Mars-owned Northern powerhouse Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, alongside former champions Pizzaface and Bad Boy Pizza Society. What’s more, outlets like Cardiff’s The Dough Thrower and Scott’s All Day in Cambridge will be making their competition debut. The full list of finalists can be found below.

On top of a signature round, which determines the National Pizza of the Year, the event will see pizzaiolos take part in a technical challenge where they must create the ultimate pizza from a selection of sponsor ingredients, all in an effort to claim the Pizza Chef of the Year title. This year will also see the introduction of The Alternative Slice Award, given to the competitor who puts together the most delicious and outstanding dish from a range of free-from products. Winners on the night will be decided by a hand-picked panel of expert industry judges.

“We say it every time, but that’s because it’s true – entries from the National Pizza Awards came in thick and fast this year, making the shortlisting process more difficult than ever and the calibre of competitors more exciting than we’ve ever seen before,” says Genna Ash-Brown, editor of Dine Out Magazine, which organises the annual event.

“Narrowing it down to just 16 was never going to be easy, but lo and behold, we have our line-up and it could be the best one to date! It’s always a pleasure to see friendly faces return and warmly welcome new names into the heat of the action – not to mention the introduction of a brand-new award this year, too! All that’s left now is to fire up the ovens and watch the competition take flight. We look forward to seeing you there!”

The National Pizza Awards is headline sponsored by Birrificio Angelo Poretti, and sponsored by Britvic, Conglom, Cooks & Co, Jestic, MFP Pizza Flour and Schär.

The 2024 National Pizza Awards finalists


Ace Pizza, London
Honey Pie


Bad Boy Pizza Society, London
Sausage Party


Botanica Hall, London
Paradise Lost


Crust Bros, London
Smokestack Lightnin’


Due Forni, Beaconsfield
Ragu Pazzo


Homeslice, London
The Bebé


Maurizio Dining & Co, Cambridge
Lord Orli


Pizzaface, Brighton
Sri Lankan Saman


Pizza Pilgrims, Nationwide
Umami Mia


Pizza Punks, Glasgow
Birria Beef


Rudy’s Pizza Napoletana, London
The Lorenzo


Scott’s All Day, Cambridge
Pepperoni & Hot Honey Detroit


The Dough Thrower, Cardiff
La Finale


The Woodyard, Woodbridge
Vesuvio


Voodoo Ray’s, London
Porky’s


Zizzi, Nationwide
Spicy Short Rib Pizza


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