Pizza Pilgrims Selfridges

These days, it takes more than recycled menus to impress eco-diners. But according to Pizza Pilgrims, if you travel to the top floor of Selfridge’s, through clouds of cologne and boujie baby clothes, you will glimpse true sustainability.

Upon arrival, you can tell this claim is more than hot air. Step through the hydroponic basil tunnel, walk across the reclaimed timber floors, plop down on the pineapple fibre seating and eat at tables made from plastic waste and you'll probably consider it all very convincing. The flour is from Wild Farmed, whose focus is soil health and proper pay for farmers, while the mozzarella is made in the UK. That last fact only doesn’t apply to the buffalo DOP which must, by definition, come from Italy.

To cover the most ground, we started with the 10-part charcuterie board. The well-trodden classics like prosciutto, salami and truffle mozzarella hit the spot, while the giant breadstick was a fun addition. To the main event, and twists on classics can be hit and miss, but the pepperoni with spicy honey was definitely a hit. The wagyu beef salami pizza also went down a treat, with the pickled peppers adding a nice twang. Given the UK origin of the wagyu, however, the second pizza felt a little galling at £20. Pilsner from Gypsy Hill was the perfect accompaniment, while the house white felt less successful at gelling with the flavours on our plate.  

Throughout, the staff were extremely accommodating and knew the menu back to front (quite literally, they pointed out the back of the menu which features more green initiatives that would otherwise go unnoticed).

We finished off our family-friendly feed with espressos and Pan di Stelle given that the chocolatey pizza ring felt like a carb too far. 

Pizza specialists Pizza Pilgrims have become known and loved by fans of the Italian staple all over the city, but its Selfridges site is a little different from the rest of the brand’s restaurants. Founded as a sustainability-focussed pizzeria within the famous department store, the 108-cover restaurant looks to make every element of running a pizzeria more sustainable, from how its built to how the menu is developed.  

So far, so good! Guests enter through a three-metre hydroponic basil tunnel, created in partnership with Harvest London, who supply basil to all Pizza Pilgrims pizzerias. You'll also find upholstery that’s been fashioned out of vegan leather, tabletops crafted from reclaimed plastic waste, reclaimed timber floors and a giant wall mural of the bay of Naples that's been created from 2000 recycled glass water bottles. Drinks are served from fully reusable kegs, with no single use packaging, while the newly formulated wine list features a selection of sustainable wines which are all stored in a cave in the Chiltern Hills, to reduce the need for refrigeration. 

The menu is exclusive to Pizza Pilgrims at Selfridges. Look out for bases topped with wild mushrooms, truffled ricotta and burrata; British wagyu beef with mozzarella and poponcini peppers; and a Smoked Salmon Everything Bagel Pizza, made with locally-sourced Fior di latte, smoked salmon, mascarpone, red onion, capers and dill.  

There is also stuffed burrata available as a side, where guests can choose from either pesto, truffled ricotta or roasted peppers, as well as gnocchi fritti which sees deep fried potato with a gorgonzola centre topped with red pepper tapenade. Desserts include a Pip & Nut chocolate almond and Cornish sea salt pizza ring, as well as a honeyed strawberry pistachio and rosewater sundae.    

Pizza Pilgrims at Selfridges is part of a new dining destination on the fourth floor of the Oxford Street store. The late-night destination is open until 11.30pm and accessible via a dedicated express lift.