Former head chef of Michelin-starred Bonhams to open pizza joint

Chef Tom Kemble, former head chef at the Michelin-starred Bonhams, is set to launch a New York-style pizza joint in London’s Borough.

Spring Street Pizza will serve 18-inch pizzas by the quarter, half or whole for both dine-in and take-away under the arches off Southwark Bridge Road.

Kemble has over 15 years’ experience in the kitchen, having headed up the Michelin-starred the Pass at South Lodge before becoming head chef at Bonhams, where he led the former Mayfair restaurant within the headquarters of the international auction house to its Michelin star within seven months of opening.

He has also held roles at Hedone in Chiswick and Swedish restaurant Fäviken, and appeared on Great British Menu in Series 12.

The dough at Spring Street was perfected during the pandemic, when Kemble and his wife Tessa launched a lockdown pizza business.

Using the Italian pre-fermentation technique of biga, the dough is fermented for up to 72 hours, which gives it a crispy exterior and airy middle, suitable for dipping in house-made sauces such as Green Goddess, Pesto Rosso and Confit Garlic Aioli.

The menu will include the likes of Classic Marinara and Sausage and Friarielli with pork and fennel sausage, friarielli, red onion, wild oregano, fior di latte mozzarella, Scarmorza, Parmigiano Reggiano and Calabrian chilli flakes.

Meanwhile, the drinks list has been curated by mixologist Ana Reznik.

The 19-cover, modern-industrial restaurant will also offer outdoor seating and remain open into the night.

Kemble said: “Creating the menu at Spring Street Pizza has been a labour of love and follows a long-standing fascination with pizza from baking bread in world-class restaurants, so I’m incredibly excited to bring the concept to life.”

Spring Street Pizza will open on 29 April, with a quarter-slice of pizza starting from £5.