A POPULAR Glasgow pizza restaurant and takeaway bar has confirmed it is to open its first Northern Ireland outlet in Belfast creating 30 new jobs.
As first revealed by The Irish News in December, Pizza Punks will open its second restaurant in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter in Longbridge House on the corner of Waring and Hill Street next month following a £500,000 investment.
The city centre office, which once housed the north’s industrial tribunals courts and is owned by Holywood property developers Wirefox, welcomed Irish restaurant chain Bunsen Burger as its first tenant in December.
Pizza Punks opened its first outlet two years ago in Glasgow, setting up shop in the renowned ‘burger strip’. Proving the sceptics wrong the restaurant has proved a huge success, largely thanks to to its unique proposition - allowing customers as many toppings on their signature sourdough base as they like for the same price.
The self-proclaimed pizza ‘revolutionaries’ are confident they are bringing something new to the city. Pizza Punks founder, Brad Stevens said the evolution of the Belfast food scene has paved the way for the major investment in the city.
"The food sector in Northern Ireland has seen remarkable change and growth in recent years. I became aware that Belfast is the new ‘place to be’ for food and hospitality a while back and have been actively looking at opportunities ever since. I knew I wanted Pizza Punks to be at the forefront of this progress and believed it would fit right into the lively Cathedral Quarter," he said
“What people really want these days is quality, tasty food that is great value for money – exactly what we offer. Our menu and our anarchy in the oven attitude allows people to have whatever they want for a flat fee – we don’t believe people should pay extra to satisfy their taste. Options are endless, and nothing is too different, wacky or ordinary at Pizza Punks – that’s why it’s called a revolution."
“Pizza Punks is essentially an experience; with the food, the drinks, the soundtrack and the atmosphere – we have the whole package. Our sourdough is proofed for 48 hours creating the perfectly light and crispy starting base for the public to get creative with their pizza," Mr Stevens added.
Wirefox property director, Michael Wright added his excitement at the new arrival to Belfast's Cathedral Quarter.
“We are delighted that Brad and the team have chosen Longbridge House as their Belfast location for Pizza Punks. This places them at the heart of city and its ever-expanding food scene. Pizza Punks offer something really different to consumers and we know people in Northern Ireland are hungry for the restaurant to launch.”
Pizza Punks is actively recruiting and those interested should send their CV to: apply@pizzapunks.co.uk.
