Pizza Express opens early on Bankside

The fourth Pizza Express to open in SE1 is located on the ground floor of Benbow House on the corner of New Globe Walk opposite Shakespeare's Globe. The restaurant occupies the entire frontage from New Globe Walk to Bear Gardens.

The launch was scheduled for Sunday 29 July but meals were being served throughout the weekend to customers wanting to dine on the terrace or upstairs where there is a spectacular river view.

The menu includes the famous Veneziana pizza and the Duomo di Bosco, an Italian summer pudding.

The other SE1 Pizza Express branches are in Shad Thames, London Bridge and Belvedere Road. The first short-lived branch was in Southwark Cathedral's chapter house.

The next Pizza Express to open will be upstream on the Thames at Wallingford.