The Newshound

London pizzeria that started life in a three-wheeled van is named the best in 'the world'

From the Newshound archive · first published 19 September 2026.

Michele Pascarella, stunned in Naples when his London chain was crowned world's best, started Napoli on the Road in 2016 with a three-wheeled van fitted with a wood-fired oven.
Michele Pascarella, stunned in Naples when his London chain was crowned world's best, started Napoli on the Road in 2016 with a three-wheeled van fitted with a wood-fired oven.
Napoli on the Road's Chiswick restaurant, one of three London sites run by the chain that dethroned New York's Una Pizza Napoletana to claim the global title for the first time.
Napoli on the Road's Chiswick restaurant, one of three London sites run by the chain that dethroned New York's Una Pizza Napoletana to claim the global title for the first time.

Michele Pascarella, 34, founded Napoli on the Road as a tiny Piaggio Ape pizza van at farmers' markets in 2016, and his restaurants in Chiswick, Richmond and Soho have now claimed the top prize at the 50 Top Pizza awards. The ceremony was held in Naples — the birthplace of pizza — making Britain's first-ever win all the more striking. Pascarella, who grew up in Caserta near Naples and moved to the UK at 19, was already named global pizza maker of the year in 2023.

Napoli on the Road dethrones New York's Una Pizza Napoletana, which had held the top spot back-to-back.

'It's like the Oscars but for pizza,' Pascarella said at the Teatro Mercadante ceremony on September 15.

Nearly 1,000 anonymous, unpaid inspectors visited each venue at least twice and scored dough, ingredients, service and atmosphere.

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