An independent pizzeria based in the capital stormed the National Pizza Awards on Tuesday 12 November, claiming the most coveted award at the annual event.
Bad Boy Pizza Society, which operates in Tulse Hill, Covent Garden and Vinegar Yard, impressed a panel of expert judges at the UK-wide event. The Bad Boy signature dish, the ‘Sausage Party’, was crowned National Pizza of the Year – winning back a title the outfit first earned two years ago during its competition debut.
The 16″ New York-style pizza dough is made with a secret 48-hour ferment method, then topped with tomato sauce, fennel sausage, stracciatella, red chilli, lemon zest, Parmigiano Reggiano, basil and a caramelised fennel and onion mix. The dish is cooked via an ‘upside down’ tomato/mozzarella method to ensure optimal crispiness.
The pizza, cooked by chef Damodar Niksic, saw off competition from 15 other pizzerias found across the country. The full list of finalists can be found below.
“This is very dreamlike,” says Niksic. “I have worked very hard to get where I am. Bad Boy Pizza Society is only bad boy by name – we are a big family and we all support each other with ideas. Yes, I made this pizza today, but everyone has worked so hard alongside me. Unity and family are good things, and winning this is down to my Bad Boy pizza family.
“Bad Boy Pizza Society is going to open its first bricks and mortar in Bethnal Green really soon, and because of that we really care about what we did today – this is the thing we’ve been chatting about, as we want to present our pizza to the people, to do justice to the pizza gods. Perfection is about little things done well and I’m just so happy that at the end of the day, it showed. Winning this confirms we’re doing the right thing, it’s a great way to tell people that we’re out there and put ourselves on the map.”
The National Pizza Awards also crowned the Pizza Chef of the Year, which went to Brigitta Stamber of Pizzaface, who impressed judges in the Technical round, where finalists were challenged with creating the ultimate pizza from a range of sponsor products.
Next up was the Alternative Slice Award, which required competitors to incorporate free-from – or alternative – ingredients in their dish. The title went to Tanzin Noor of Botanica Hall.
Last, but not least, the Bloggers’ Choice Award, decided by a panel of foodie influencers, was awarded to Scott Holden of Scott’s All Day in Cambridge.
Held at Big Penny Social and hosted by food and drink broadcaster Nigel Barden, the National Pizza Awards 2024 were headline sponsored by Birrificio Angelo Poretti, and sponsored by Britvic, Clawson Farms, Conglom, Cooks&Co, Fleet Street Communications, Häagen-Dazs, Jestic Foodservice Solutions, Marco Fuso Pizza Flour, Mondarella, Properoni, Salvo, Schar and Tajin. The event is organised by Dine Out in partnership with its sister title, OOH.
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 & Co, Cambridge
Lord Orli
Pizzaface, Brighton
Sri Lankan Saman
Pizza Pilgrims, Nationwide
Umami Mia
Pizza Pilgrims, 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
Porky’s
Zizzi, Nationwide
Spicy Short Rib Pizza
