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The full list of British pizza restaurants in the final of the 2026 National Pizza Awards

London pizzerias dominate the list this year, but there are also six pizza joints outside the capital cooking up some of the best pies

Eloise Feilden
Written by
Eloise Feilden
Contributor, Time Out UK
Yard Sale at National Pizza Awards 2026
Image: National Pizza Awards 2026 | Yard Sale at National Pizza Awards 2026
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Few meals are better than oozing pools of cheese and tangy tomato sauce layered onto a lightly charred thin crust of bread. The Italians sure got it right when they invented the pizza pie – and the iconic flatbreads have transplanted pretty well onto British soil. This week one London pizza restaurant was even crowned the best in the entire world.

The UK’s National Pizza Awards keep track of the country’s best ‘zas. Now in its 10th year, the awards has just announced its finalists for 2026. Sixteen pies will go head-to-head in a live cook-off on November 3 to battle for the title of the UK’s best pizza.

Seven of the finalists are London locals, which you can check out here. Three national chains – Zizzi, Pizza Pilgrims and Franco Manca – also made the final, which leaves six independents outside the Big Smoke in the running. 

In the south, At the Chapel pizzeria in Bruton could win the title with its fennel sausage-laden Salsiccia, while Hove’s Stretch has debuted on the list with The Herd, made with pirata (pork) loin and British pecorino cheese. In Cambridge, Scott's All Day is gunning for the glory with its Peaches, Peaches, Peaches pie, which combines (you guessed it) peaches with prosciutto, mango habanero hot sauce and a mozzarella base, and Hereford’s Leaven Pizza intends to score high with Diavolo al Sesamo, which has a sesame crust. 

Up north, meanwhile, CIRCO in Newcastle’s Hot Like Gigi pizza, made with its signature vodka sauce, ’nduja sausage and ripped burrata, is hoping to take home the title, while Nell’s in Manchester enters the competition for the first time with its Do You ’Roni, Honey? pie, with pepperoni, ’nduja, chilli honey, house tomato sauce, mozzarella and parmesan. 

All the finalists in the 2026 National Pizza Awards

  • ALFI, London
  • At the Chapel, Bruton
  • Bad Boy Pizza Society, London
  • CIRCO, Newcastle
  • Crust Bros, London
  • Due Forni, London
  • East West, London
  • Five Feet, London
  • Franco Manca, national
  • Leaven Pizza, Hereford
  • Nell's, Manchester
  • Pizza Pilgrims, national
  • Scott's All Day, Cambridge
  • Stretch, Hove
  • Yard Sale Pizza, London
  • Zizzi, national

Did you see that this tiny dining room in Wales is the best restaurant in the UK for 2026?

Plus: Asian fusion restaurant The Ivy Asia is opening in Scotland for the first time.

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