Neopolitan pizza firm to move into historic Patisserie Valerie site in Soho
Stalwart defender of Neopolitan pizza, L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele, is to open a second London site in the original home of Patisserie Valerie in Soho.
The move, first spotted by Rambla chef Victor Garvey, brings the pizza concept's London portfolio to two, joining its site on Baker Street (pictured).
L'Antica Pizzeria da Michele has operated since 1870, when its first pizzeria was opened by the Condurro family in Naples, the same branch that featured in the Julia Roberts-led film Eat Pray Love.
The London opening comes after administrators for Patisserie Valerie were forced to close 71 sites after the discovery of "significant and potentially fraudulent accounting irregularities" as reported by the firm's previous owners.
Among those sold in the first tranche of sites was the former Soho flagship.
There has been a Patisserie Valerie in Soho since the very first site was opened in Frith Street by Madame Valerie in 1926. When the site was bombed out during the second world war, it was moved to Old Compton Street.
Patisserie Valerie's new operator, Causeway Capital, which acquired the firm from administrators KPMG in February, has since closed 14 sites after acquiring 96.
