The restaurant first welcomed the public on 27 March 1965 to Wardour Street. Creating the concept of casual dining, square slices of pizza were sold in greaseproof paper through the front window. PizzaExpress has become part of millions of people’s lives, but the ethos of a simple menu with warm service remains very much the same.

An avid art collector throughout his life, Peter was keen to create a stylish aesthetic for his restaurant, teaming up with Italian designer, Enzo Apicella, to do so. Together, they introduced a wine menu, dining tables, the signature PizzaExpress open kitchen and simple, attractive furnishings. Celebrities and journalists flocked to the restaurant and a brand was born.

The second restaurant opened on Coptic Street, next to the British Museum, in 1967. Formerly a dairy, Peter gave Enzo a brief to replicate the aura of the first PizzaExpress but with a completely unique design and décor, in keeping with the building’s character and charm.

This became a feature of PizzaExpress’ roll-out, with Peter as determined to avoid becoming homogenous as he was to grow the business. Rather than a chain, he often compared his restaurants to a necklace, with each link, a highly polished gem. Enzo went on to design over 85 PizzaExpress restaurants

Opening hours
Monday 11:30 - 22:00
Tuesday 11:30 - 22:00
Wednesday 11:30 - 22:00
Thursday 11:30 - 22:00
Friday 11:30 - 22:00
Saturday 11:30 - 22:00
Sunday 11:30 - 22:00