They also serve salads and sides (Image: Stable Hearth Neapolitan Pizzeria & Enoteca/Facebook)
For most British families, Italian cuisine is a firm favourite when dining out, and a mouth-watering pizza never fails to satisfy – so you might be surprised to discover that some of the finest examples are closer to home than you’d think.
In what has become the equivalent of the Oscars for the Italian hospitality industry, the Italian Awards 2026 took place, celebrating the very finest producers of the cuisine throughout the UK.
From traditional cafés, restaurants, pizzerias and exceptional recipes – they all received their richly deserved recognition at the prestigious event.
Emerging as the champion in the best pizzeria category, beating out five rival establishments, was a charming, intimate eatery nestled in the town of Darlington in the North East.
Housed within a characterful old Victorian-style building with dark brickwork and atmospheric low lighting, it offers a wonderfully cosy setting, perfectly suited to enjoying an authentic pizza.
It may seem an unlikely location to stumble upon genuinely authentic Italian cuisine, tucked away in a market town, yet it is undoubtedly worth a visit when exploring the Peak District.
Pizza is their speciality (Image: Stable Hearth Neapolitan Pizzeria & Enoteca/Facebook)
On Albion Road, New Mills, High Peak, approximately eight miles south-east of Stockport and just 13 miles from Manchester, the restaurant occupies a somewhat off-the-beaten-track position away from more conventional foodie hotspots.
Nevertheless, it has made a sufficient impression on the Italian culinary world to earn well-deserved recognition as a true gem of the area.
A recent customer wrote on TripAdvisor: « Without a doubt the best pizza we have ever had. Quality hand-picked ingredients with generous toppings and a perfectly oven-fired base. I like the pepperoni lover the best.
« Simple but a full slice of quality pepperoni in every bite; you don’t run out halfway through as so often I find at other restaurants. Nick and his friendly relaxed team make this a dining experience to savour. P.S. The arancini are not to miss. »
Another impressed diner shared: « Fabulous pizza restaurant! Stable Hearth has such a lovely atmosphere. Really smart and classy decor, incredibly friendly staff and owners (so wonderful with our young children) and amazing pizzas.
« The chips are incredible with a fab choice of seasonings. The pizza menu offers great choices too. A really wonderful restaurant. »
It’s in the heart of Darlington (Image: Stable Hearth Neapolitan Pizzeria & Enoteca/Facebook)
The establishment takes pride in serving authentic Neapolitan wood-fired pizza, featuring both traditional and contemporary varieties.
According to TripAdvisor, this isn’t their sole achievement; the compact yet impressive restaurant has secured Best Pizzeria English Italian Awards in 2018, 2019 and 2022.
The restaurant can be found tucked away at 33-35 Duke Street, Darlington DL3 7RX. While there isn’t a dedicated car park, on-street parking is accessible, or it’s within walking distance from both Winston Street West Car Park and Abbott’s Yard Car Park.
Awards Director Warren Paul, while discussing the launch of Italian Awards for 2026, expressed his delight in celebrating the efforts of « passionate people ».
He continued: « That’s why we do what we do. It’s to make sure the hard-working inspirational people and businesses get the recognition they deserve.
« Everyone jumps to criticise and leave a negative review or complaint over the tiniest thing, but very few rush to praise good service, food and experiences. That’s where we come in. So congratulations to our winners. »
Highly Recommended Pizzerias in the same category included:
- Best Pizzeria Amico Mio (Clitheroe)
- Best Pizzeria Osteria V2.0 (Shrewsbury)
- Best Pizzeria Primavista Bury St Edmunds (Bury St Edmunds)
- Best Pizzeria Scaramantica Pizzeria (Cardiff)
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