NEW eco aware restaurant, Knead Neapolitan, opens this week in Wokingham.
The Peach Place pizzeria will be serving tasty toppings with a conscience, from Saturday.
Simon and Olivia Perry, and new business partner Nick Csemiczky, will manage the restaurant.
Simon said: “We’re delighted to be opening in Wokingham.
“It’s such a gorgeous market town.
“We love being in Peach Place, surrounded by lots of other independent restaurants.
“It’s a thriving square, with interesting and varied food people can enjoy eating outside in the sunshine.”
This is Simon and Olivia’s second pizza restaurant, and takes over the premises previously filled by cocktail bar The Leafy Elephant.
The success of a first store, in Maidenhead, enabled them to think about expanding into Wokingham, and to invite Nick to join them.
While Nick has years of experience in the restaurant sector, Simon is self taught, his route into pizza-making unconventional.
An English teacher 10 years ago, he was inspired to make pizzas by a good friend who loved travelling, niche places, and foods.
“Ian gifted us a pizza oven, and really opened our eyes to a new world of ingredients,” said Simon.
“ I really got into making my own dough.”
Simon and Olivia started holding pizza parties, enjoying the process of making as much as the fun of communal eating.
Simon stopped teaching, and they converted a van into a portable pizza-mobile, catering for local pubs, weddings and parties.
The business took off, and in 2022, they were able to fulfil their dream to open a planet-friendly pizzeria in Maidenhead.
Now, a second restaurant gives Wokingham foodies a chance to sample their pizzas.
“We believe in doing things well, so we’ll be sticking to pizza, not branching out into pasta, and doing this one thing to the best of our ability,” Simon said.
“Sustainability is important to us, so we’re sourcing ingredients as locally as possible, working with suppliers like WildFarmed, which practises regenerative farming and doesn’t use pesticides.
“Our Gelato ice-cream comes from Cookham, our beers from White Waltham, and our meats will be sourced from a local butcher,” he explained.
Siren Craft Brew, and Sustainable Wine Solutions will also help keep bottling and transport to a minimum.
With three wines on tap, beers and a range of pizzas, including vegan options, Knead Neapolitan hopes to bring their own special brand of quality, innovation, and flavour.
“We’re super excited to be in the town, and can’t wait to open our doors,” said Nick.
Knead Neapolitan’s soft launch is on Saturday, June 21, with the restaurant fully up and running from Sunday, June 22.
For information, visit: knead.pizza, wildfarmed.com, sustainablewinesolutions.co.uk, and sirencraftbrew.com
