Stable Hearth in Darlington named UK's best pizzeria

Stable Hearth, on Duke Street, was named Best Pizzeria in England at an award ceremony in Leeds last week for its traditional Neapolitan pizzas.

It is the fifth time in a row the eatery has claimed the gong, which it has now held since 2018. The awards were not held during Covid.

Owner Nicholas Thexton told the Echo: “A big thank you to all that voted for us and more so because of all the support since we opened the restaurant.

(Image: STABLE HEARTH)

Stable Hearth team (L-R) Andrea Gemmi, Anna Jones, Jane Park, Nicholas' wife Gemma, Olivia Douglas Reeves and Nicholas Thexton attending the awards. (Image: STABLE HEARTH) “We don’t ever get used to winning, if anything it makes us the ones to beat.

“We are pushing all the time to be the best in town.

“We are a family business, we work really really hard running and building the business.”

Nicholas and Gemma's daughter Nell with one of their pizzas. (Image: STABLE HEARTH) Nineteen pizzerias were in the running for the accolade, handed out at the Italian Awards, among other categories including Best Chef, Best Restaurant and Best Team.

Nicholas and wife Gemma started Stable Hearth in 2013 at a pub in Gainford, County Durham, and moved to their restaurant on Duke Street in 2017.

They specialise in authentic pizzas with homemade dough proved on site and cooked in 90 seconds in a 400C pizza oven using Italian and locally sourced ingredients.

The awards are first voted for by diners before a judge checks out each shortlisted restaurant marking it on its food and service.

Stable Hearth pizza. (Image: STABLE HEARTH) It comes amid reports the hospitality industry is struggling with rising costs and the cost of living crisis.

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Nicholas added: “Business is generally busy. There were a couple of quieter months earlier in the mid-year but generally, we are busy. We had a phenomenal weekend last weekend.

“I have seen a difference in increasing prices and costs that we find every year and staffing costs have gone up this year. The hospitality industry is a hard game to be in.

“I just hope we can keep on doing what we’re doing.”