Hurstpierpoint pizzeria celebrates triple win at National Pizza and Pasta Awards

Independent Sussex pizzeria Village Pizza Kitchen (VPK) is celebrating a fantastic night of success at the 2026 Pizza, Pasta & Italian Food Industry Awards (PAPAs), held at the London Marriott Hotel Grosvenor Square on Thursday 5 November.

The Hurstpierpoint-based business was crowned winner of the Independent Pizza Restaurant 2026 and received a Gold Award for Independent Pizza Delivery Store 2026, adding to an impressive collection of national industry accolades.

There was further cause for celebration as VPK's Sous Chef, Lewis Jennings, won the Whitworth Bros Flour category of the prestigious Pizza Chef of the Year competition, held earlier that day.

Lewis was selected as a finalist in two of the competition's four categories, competing against some of the UK's most talented pizza chefs. His winning creation, a sweet Romana pizza aptly named 'Appely Ever After', impressed the judges and secured him the category title. Customers will soon have the opportunity to try the award-winning pizza themselves when it joins the Village Pizza Kitchen menu as a special for a limited time.

The celebrations didn't end there. VPK's recently launched wholesale division, VPK Foodservice, was also named a finalist for the Italian Style Food Award in the Food Service category, recognising its artisan par-baked Detroit-style pizza base.

From lockdown launch to national recognition

Founded by Jo Malone in December 2020, Village Pizza Kitchen opened its doors in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic with a mission to create exceptional British craft pizza using locally sourced, high-quality ingredients.

Just six years later, the independent business has grown from a small village pizzeria into a multi-faceted operation, encompassing its award-winning Hurstpierpoint restaurant, mobile wood-fired pizza catering, stadium concessions, a recently launched residency at Brighton's Shelter Hall and a growing wholesale foodservice business.

Despite its expansion, VPK remains firmly committed to its original ethos of championing British produce and supporting local suppliers.

Its pizzas are made using a signature slow-fermented biga dough, incorporating British flour and a carefully selected range of ingredients from local farmers and artisan producers.

The latest awards build on an impressive track record of success, including winning Best Independent Pizza Delivery Store in both 2023 and 2024, and Best Independent Pizza Restaurant in 2025. Village Pizza Kitchen has also been voted one of Sussex's Top 10 Restaurants in the Brighton Restaurant Awards (BRAVO) for the past four consecutive years, further cementing its reputation as one of the county's most celebrated independent dining destinations.

A proud moment for the whole team

Jo Malone, Founder and Owner of Village Pizza Kitchen, said: "To come away with three national awards in one evening is just incredible, and we're absolutely over the moon!

"When we opened VPK during lockdown in December 2020, I could never have imagined where we’d be today. What started as a little village pizza takeaway has grown into something really special, and to receive this level of recognition from within our industry means an enormous amount.

"I'm particularly proud of Lewis. To reach the finals in two categories of the Pizza Chef of the Year competition and then go on to win one of them is a fantastic achievement. He's a talented young chef, and it's wonderful to see his creativity and hard work recognised on a national stage.

"These awards really are a reflection of the dedication and passion of our whole team, who work incredibly hard to deliver the best possible experience for our customers.

"We're also hugely grateful to our loyal customers, who have supported us from the very beginning, and to our fantastic local suppliers who help us showcase the very best of British produce.

"With the recent launch of VPK Foodservice and our new kitchen at Shelter Hall in Brighton, it's an incredibly exciting time for the business, and we're looking forward to what comes next."

An exciting new chapter

The latest accolades come during a significant period of growth for Village Pizza Kitchen.

In 2026, the business launched VPK Foodservice, a dedicated wholesale operation producing artisan par-baked pizza bases and breads for hospitality venues, stadiums and foodservice customers across the UK.

VPK has also recently opened a new kitchen at Shelter Hall on Brighton seafront, bringing its signature British craft pizzas to the city as part of a 12-month residency.

The business continues to operate its award-winning restaurant in Hurstpierpoint, alongside its mobile pizza catering operation and concessions at Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium.

With three more national awards to its name, Village Pizza Kitchen continues to demonstrate what can be achieved by a small independent business with a passion for quality, local produce and great pizza.