Margate’s GB Pizza Co is finally set to reopen its doors next month following a major refurb after an arson attack led to the closure of the pizza spot in October 2022.
The Marine Drive business had just celebrated its tenth anniversary and spent some £20,000 on a refurb when the blaze devastated the premises.
The award-winning pizza restaurant has been operating since 2012 and was founded by Lisa Richards and her partner Rachel Seed. Sadly, Rachel passed away in 2018 after losing her long battle against a brain tumour.
Lisa continues the business, which started life in a VW camper on the Harbour Arm, and has launched various community initiatives , including the reboot of Margate Pride and giving away free pizzas to emergency services workers in the wake of the London terror attacks in 2017.
Now, following an eight month hiatus, the new look GB-PIZZA-CO will open its doors on Wednesday 5th July.
Former magazine editor and publisher Lisa said: “We’ve had a rollercoaster of a decade at GB Pizza that’s for sure. There were times over the past few months when I thought it would be impossible to bring our little pizza joint back to life, but we’ve been honoured to be a part of so many people’s Margate stories, and since the fire forced us to close we’ve received letters and emails of support from so many different people waiting for our return it’s been amazing.
“GB Pizza has been at the heart of the town’s community on the seafront in Margate for more than 10 years. We are a safe haven – as a gay-owned and operated business, celebrating diversity, and demanding inclusivity and equality has been our mission since day one.
“The fire rocked us all, however, only eight months later, we’re the ones that are all fired up, and ready to reopen for a summer of fun doing what we do best – pizzas!”
GB’s bold new interiors were created by the Raven Collective, alongside new logo artwork designed by Lisa’s best friend and creative Christian Tate. It has been inspired by the Margate sunset with a nod to the candy colours of Dreamland.
The relaunch menu includes pizza best sellers, such as ‘Bath Pig chorizo & chilli’, ‘Peppers, Kentish goat’s curd & basil’ and the vegan ‘Spinach, mushrooms, caramelised onions, hazelnuts, rocket.
There will also be a limited edition ‘No Smoke Without Fire’ pizza special featuring fiery & smoky Nduja, hot honey, Ashmore chilli cheese & red hot chilli.
Lisa and her team, including GB’s restaurant manager Chantelle Else, work with local producers where possible and use quality Kentish cured meat from award-winning Moons Green Charcuterie; ethically-reared meat from Chandler & Dunn, cheeses from Cheeses of Canterbury, chilli jams and hot sauces from Jamface Jams in Margate and Sevenscore asparagus when in season.
Other sources are producers such as Trealy Farm, Bath Pig and Dingley Dell. Local beer and wine comes from Chapel Down, Hush Health, Docker and Gadd’s, and there’s fresh fruit juices from local Kent producer, Owlet.
Working with St Peter’s Sausage Company, who create a new sausage recipe every month, a special Charity Pizza is created – £1 of each sale goes to The Brain Tumour Charity, in memory of co-founder Rachel.
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In April, 48-year-old Andrew Miller was jailed for four years after pleading guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
