ASK ITALIAN x ROMAN KEMP

In the biggest shake-up to its pizza offering in a generation, Restaurant family ASK Italian has officially unveiled its new menu concept, Pizza a Mano.

The new range is a bigger, bolder format: 14-inch, round, hand-stretched pizzas, stone-baked fresh in-house.

Designed as a generous serving for a strong value proposition, Pizza a Mano taps into the shift towards gourmet pizzas in the UK.

It is a seminal year for the brand which has announced an investment into major new menu concepts, in-restaurant experiences and collaborations.

To celebrate the launch of Pizza a Mano, ASK Italian staged its first, one-of-a-kind live gameshow experience: The Slice is Right at its flagship restaurant in London, Paddington – coming to multiple UK regions in 2026.

The event, attended by consumers, media and influencers, featured full gameshow-style production with a unique, brand-owned gameplay format.

Guests competed table-to-table across three rounds for exclusive prizes including a jackpot city break to Italy.

Marking its biggest talent collaboration yet, ASK Italian partnered with broadcaster and self-confessed brand fan Roman Kemp to front The Slice is Right, kicking off a major entertainment-led campaign set to unfold throughout the year.

The Slice is Right is set to roll out across the ASK Italian’s restaurant estate throughout 2026 – as live experiences and new tabletop game format. More details will be released this spring.

The nine-strong ‘Pizza a Mano’ menu – meaning ‘pizza by hand’ in Italian – features craveable upgrades on classic recipes, with prices starting from £13:50 and available now across all sites.
The pizza dough bases are made with 100% Wildfarmed regenerative flour, topped edge-to-edge with olive oil, cheese and cut at the table with scissors for an artisanal experience.

ASK Italian was the first UK chain restaurant to switch to 100% Wildfarmed flour in 2024. Most recently, the brand won the Gluten Free Experience MIDAS award, recognising Pizza a Mano ingredients.

• Fiery Trio Di Carne – Fiery ’Nduja, pepperoni, pancetta and fresh chillies on a tomato and mozzarella base, drizzled with hot honey.
• Pollo Roquito – Roast chicken breast, Roquito pepper pearls and balsamic red onions on a tomato and mozzarella base and baked in the oven, then topped with Fior di Latte mozzarella, crispy prosciutto and rocket.
• Salami Misti – Salami, pepperoni, prosciutto, roasted peppers and balsamic red onions on a tomato and mozzarella base.
• Margherita (Vegetarian) – A tomato and mozzarella base, with fresh basil and oregano. The recipe can be made vegan with MozzaRisella.
• Stromboli – Properoni pepperoni on a tomato & mozzarella base. Add chillies for extra heat.
• Pollo Coppa E Funghi – Torn roast chicken, air-dried coppa ham and mixed mushrooms on a tomato and mozzarella base, finished with oregano.
• Truffle Funghi (Vegetarian) – Mozzarella, truffle mascarpone, mushrooms and thyme on a carbonara sauce base.
• Pomodoro Pesto (Vegan) – A tomato base, topped with a green pesto swirl and a sprinkle of oregano.
• Primavera (Vegetarian) – Tomato & mozzarella base with balsamic onions, slow-roasted tomatoes, artichokes, peppers, mushrooms and olives, topped with green pesto. The recipe can be made vegan with MozzaRisella.
• Calzone Carne Piccante – Folded pizza filled with pepperoni, ham, beef and red wine ragu, fresh chillies, sautéed mushrooms, tomato sauce and mozzarella.