London’s first free pizzeria which will offer 500 pizzas a week opens to help those in cost-of-living crisis

By Maeve Cullinan

The team behind what has been called London’s oldest family-run restaurant has launched the city’s first ever free pizzeria to help feed struggling families during the cost-of-living crisis.

High Street Kensington’s Il Portico, which has been serving up regional Italian dishes to residents since 1967, will be offering complimentary wood-fired margherita pizzas to those in need this winter.

The move came after owner James Chiaverini was forced to shut down the Italian eatery’s next-door sister restaurant, Pino.

Amid staff shortages, soaring energy prices and decreased footfall, the hospitality sector is facing acute economic challenges – with national restaurant closures up by 60 per cent this year, according to advisory firm Mazars.

Mr Chiaverini was “faced with two options, either reincarnate it as something new, or hand the keys back to the landlord”.

“To do something commercial in this climate is suicidal,” he said. “We decided to do something else instead that would be of some benefit.

“Something we are very strong on here is our sense of duty to the community – community is the one thing that keeps our business stable, so we will do anything we can do to support local people in turn.”

The restaurant will provide up to 500 free pizzas a week, Wednesday-Sunday from 3.30pm-6.30-pm.

Il Portico has partnered with local charities including Glassdoor and the Rugby Porto Trust, which will allocate key rings to struggling residents to show on arrival so as to ensure the scheme serves those most in need.

Kensington and Chelsea is home to some of the UK’s wealthiest individuals, but research by WPI Economics Report and The Kensington and Chelsea Foundation has also identified it as the most unequal borough in London.

During the pandemic, 12.9 per cent of residents were found to be living in fuel poverty – with the number projected to significantly rise over this winter.

Mr Chiaverini, whose family have run and owned the restaurant for more than 55 years, said his motivations behind the non-profit pizzeria were simple. He said: “No family should have to choose between heating and eating, and the team will ensure as many people as possible don’t go without this year.”

For information on how you can support the scheme, see here.

Pictured top: Il Portico owner James Chiaverini (Picture: James Chiaverini)