Owner Sourfire Limited group has acquired a site on Battersea Rise, South London, and expects to open next year.
Pi is the brainchild of founder Rosie Whaley, who has a background in fashion but worked in pizzerias in Florence ahead of launching her project in the UK.
The single-site, Winchester based restaurant launched an equity crowdfunding campaign on Growthdeck earlier this year. It is aiming to raise £500,000 to open three 50-60 cover sites in South London. At the time of writing the campaign has raised £397,000 from 19 investors and remains active.
Pi, which opened its original site three years ago, offers 20-inch sharing pizzas served on a raised wooden board in the middle of the table.
Besides pizzas, the menu features a selection of starters (including a mushroom bruschetta; serrano ham with melon and capers; and a sharing board of charcuterie, cheeses, vegetables and crispbread), and salads (with options such as tricolore; avocado, chilli and coriander; mizuna; and garden leaf). Pizza options include a classic margherita; a white-based pizza topped with scamorza, kale and garlic; a Lebanese ground lamb option with Turkish yoghurt and parsley; and a traditional Napoli with anchovies, olives, capers and Italian tomatoes.
Frankie & Benny’s co-founder Kevin Bacon and Kim Hayward, senior partner at BDO accounting, are both joining the restaurant’s board ahead of the expansion.
“We think this is an ideal format to take to London,” says Whaley. “Diners are very keen on pizza – but there is clearly a move towards innovative, artisan offerings, as opposed to the more sterile formats of the high street chains."
Restaurant Property acted on behalf of the 1,519 sq ft site’s former owner Scoffers. Scoffers closed its doors on 29 October after 22 years of trade, citing rising rents.