Congletonians can warm themselves with a pizza and a pint this winter as a pizzeria takes up residence at a town centre pub.

Ye Olde White Lion, owned by Congleton's Beartown Brewery, has welcomed authentic pizzeria Noughts and Crosses to serve customers at the High Street pub.

They will serve our town with what they claim as some of 'the best pizza outside Manchester'.

The artisan pizzeria, based in Sandbach, has sourced some of the best traditional pizzaiolos in the North West who have a huge passion for pizza.

The expert pizza makers will be under the watchful eye of manager Eliza Pollock (24), who brings her worldly learnings to Congleton all the way from Victoria, Australia.

Eliza's pizza expertise runs in the family as her mother owns a pizzeria Down Under.

Her mother owned the pizzeria since Eliza was nine and she often helped out by working there folding boxes before a spell as manager.

Speaking about the Noughts and Crosses residence, Eliza said: "Everyone loves it and is super happy that [pizza maker] Rachid is back.

"He is Italian, it doesn't really get much better than that."

Though pizzaiolo Rachid caters for English pizza lovers by providing a BBQ base on some of his pizzas, he is reluctant to add sweetcorn to the Italian staple.

After a difficult period for the hospitality industry Ye Olde White Lion is drumming up business by hosting karaoke nights and live bands, as well as the new pizza residence.

Eliza said: "Week days are still a bit of a struggle but the weekends are always busy.

"It's really good to get everyone back in the pub and enjoying themselves again."

Noughts and Crosses' hand stretched pizzas are freshly made on site and are inspired by the finest Italian traditions.

They are topped with the finest ingredients sourced from a combination of local and Italian producers before being placed in a wood-fired oven.

The dough is expertly created daily using the finest flour and adding only water, salt, olive oil and starter.

To shake things up Noughts and Crosses have introduced two new pizza bases – a charcoal base offering a deep, rich smoky flavour and a nutritious and healthy option with a five-grain base.

Ye Olde White Lion is located at 22 High Street.

To keep up to date with all pizza related offerings and events at the pub you can follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Or click here.

See also: Congleton Nub News Meet the Journalist: Jake Hackney.

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