There’s a mural on the wall at Richmond’s Base Face Pizza which declares: “People want pizza.” After working my way through one of their giant 18-inch sourdough stunners – alone, I might proudly add – I can confirm: people absolutely do. Especially when it’s this good.
Base Face’s giant 18-inch pizzas are perfect for sharing… or for hungry dough afficionados
Newly opened on Kew Road in Richmond, Base Face Pizza has long been a neighbourhood favourite in Barnes and Putney, but this latest and largest London site is set to draw in dough devotees beyond the postcode. With indoor tables, outdoor seating for al fresco summer slices, and a menu of long-ferment dough topped with seasonal British ingredients, this is pizza done properly.
The signature Base Face pizza, topped with buffalo mozzarella, rocket, parmesan, basil and garlic oil is a thing of beauty.
The vibe is relaxed, independent, and unfussy. You won’t find gimmicks here – just perfectly crispy sourdough pizzas made with local, seasonal produce, friendly service, and slices we haven’t stopped thinking about since. It’s the kind of place you wish was on your street, so if you live in Richmond, consider yourself seriously lucky – and if you don’t, this is even worth crossing London for.
I ordered the namesake Base Face pizza: a beautifully balanced mix of fresh buffalo mozzarella, rocket, parmesan, tomato, basil, and garlic oil. Officially, this 18-inch family size pizza is designed for sharing, but I took that as a personal challenge. With eyes ever bigger than my belly, I wasn’t quite prepared for how gargantuan it would arrive at the table (on its own sharing tower, no less). And while I couldn’t quite finish it in one sitting, with take-home boxes on hand, there’s a particular kind of joy in knowing you’ve got leftovers this good waiting in your fridge for later.
The Margarita pizza, with Base Face’s signature slow-fermented dough, can’t be beat
And so, to the pizza itself. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s one of the best I’ve ever had in London… if not the best. The base was crisp and chewy in all the right places, with a tasty tang from the pizzeria’s signature slow-fermented dough. The buffalo mozzarella was creamy and plentiful, the garlic oil made every bite totally addictive, and the rocket and parmesan added texture and depth. It felt utterly indulgent, all without being heavy.
Pro tip: order the garlic butter. Rich, silky, and borderline dangerous, it’s a real gem of a pizza crust dip. I kept telling myself I’d stop. But I couldn’t.
Base Face pizza founder Tim Thornton’s cosy neighbourhood restaurants have become a local favourite around West London
My dining partner opted for the 12-inch sized Margarita, and enthusiastically confirmed it was some of the best pizza he’d ever had – being Italian, this was high praise indeed. For an individual, the smaller size is certainly enough – while the spectacular 18-inch option here is a delight for sharers and for your Instagram feed. And though the giant pizzas at Base Face initially caught my attention, it’s the bold flavours and friendly neighbourhood restaurant vibe that will have me coming back.
‘People want pizza’ – and we’re not surprised, if this is on offer
While I might have arrived hungry and optimistic, I left with a full stomach, a pizza box under my arm, and one very clear thought: I think I’ve just found the best pizza in London… or this side of Naples.
Visit: Base Face Pizza Richmond, 112 Kew Rd, London TW9 2PQ
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There’s a mural on the wall at Richmond’s Base Face Pizza which declares: “People want pizza.” After working my way through one of their giant 18-inch sourdough stunners – alone, I might proudly add – I can confirm: people absolutely do. Especially when it’s this good.
Newly opened on Kew Road in Richmond, Base Face Pizza has long been a neighbourhood favourite in Barnes and Putney, but this latest and largest London site is set to draw in dough devotees beyond the postcode. With indoor tables, outdoor seating for al fresco summer slices, and a menu of long-ferment dough topped with seasonal British ingredients, this is pizza done properly.
The vibe is relaxed, independent, and unfussy. You won’t find gimmicks here – just perfectly crispy sourdough pizzas made with local, seasonal produce, friendly service, and slices we haven’t stopped thinking about since. It’s the kind of place you wish was on your street, so if you live in Richmond, consider yourself seriously lucky – and if you don’t, this is even worth crossing London for.
I ordered the namesake Base Face pizza: a beautifully balanced mix of fresh buffalo mozzarella, rocket, parmesan, tomato, basil, and garlic oil. Officially, this 18-inch family size pizza is designed for sharing, but I took that as a personal challenge. With eyes ever bigger than my belly, I wasn’t quite prepared for how gargantuan it would arrive at the table (on its own sharing tower, no less). And while I couldn’t quite finish it in one sitting, with take-home boxes on hand, there’s a particular kind of joy in knowing you’ve got leftovers this good waiting in your fridge for later.
And so, to the pizza itself. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s one of the best I’ve ever had in London… if not the best. The base was crisp and chewy in all the right places, with a tasty tang from the pizzeria’s signature slow-fermented dough. The buffalo mozzarella was creamy and plentiful, the garlic oil made every bite totally addictive, and the rocket and parmesan added texture and depth. It felt utterly indulgent, all without being heavy.
Pro tip: order the garlic butter. Rich, silky, and borderline dangerous, it’s a real gem of a pizza crust dip. I kept telling myself I’d stop. But I couldn’t.
My dining partner opted for the 12-inch sized Margarita, and enthusiastically confirmed it was some of the best pizza he’d ever had – being Italian, this was high praise indeed. For an individual, the smaller size is certainly enough – while the spectacular 18-inch option here is a delight for sharers and for your Instagram feed. And though the giant pizzas at Base Face initially caught my attention, it’s the bold flavours and friendly neighbourhood restaurant vibe that will have me coming back.
While I might have arrived hungry and optimistic, I left with a full stomach, a pizza box under my arm, and one very clear thought: I think I’ve just found the best pizza in London… or this side of Naples.
Visit: Base Face Pizza Richmond, 112 Kew Rd, London TW9 2PQ
Reservations: Base Face Pizza
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A new limited-edition English single malt brings together ex-maple syrup and Oloroso casks with a subtle hint of peat. Introducing Cotswolds Distillery’s Round Hill Harvest, the fifth expression in its popular Harvest Series. Comprising 1,200 bottles, the release marries whisky matured in ex-maple syrup casks with Spanish oak Oloroso hogsheads. The resulting dram is rich…
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