National Pizza Awards 2023 finalists revealed

Sixteen competitors will go head-to-head in a bid to win the National Pizza of the Year crown

The National Pizza Awards are back for 2023, with 16 chefs from across the hospitality sector preparing to face off in a live cooking showdown on 21 November at London’s Big Penny Social.

A range of indie names and well-known brands form this year’s outstanding line-up, with independent brewery Salt Taps and Margate-based Palms Pizzeria competing against the likes of Neapolitan sourdough specialist Franco Manca, Italian restaurant business Piccolino, and London pizza institution Homeslice.

Kitchen professionals from restaurants, food stalls and pubs across the UK submitted their signature pizza recipes in the hopes of making the cut. These will be the pizzas judged at the final next month.

On top of the signature round, the event will see pizzaiolos take part in a technical challenge, where they will use a selection of sponsor ingredients to make the ultimate creation, which will see one chef win the Pizza Chef of the Year title. The competition also includes a plant-based round, sponsored by former champion Purezza. Winners will be decided by a hand-picked panel of expert industry judges.

"This year drew stellar entries from businesses all over the UK, the sheer scale and quality of which we’ve never seen before," says Genna Ash-Brown, editor of Dine Out Magazine, which organises the annual event.

"Choosing just 16 from such a high calibre of entries was no mean feat, but we have our 2023 competitors at last – and the line-up is certainly impressive. The mix of up-and-coming and well-established names is sure to result in a nail-biting final. We can’t wait for them to step up to the ovens and see who comes out on top!"

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