Twenty five Chefs battled it out in the heats for a spot in our Doughdown final but only five could make it through. The competition was one of the toughest battles we've seen here at Pizza Pilgrims and the standard was high.  
 
Have we got some talented peeps working for us or what!?! 
 
The Doughdown final is a pizza-fueled love affair, and our teams came out in force to support the five finalists and sample the pizzas. This year finalists are Andrea Esposito, Head Chef at Brick Lane & Shoreditch; Andrea Vaccariello, Head Chef at Nottingham; Luca Vardaro, Head Chef at Hyde Park; Toni Iavazzo, Head Chef at London Bridge and Donato Andres, Head Chef at Selfridges. 
 
The finalist's pizzas were judged across the following categories - appearance, texture, taste, flavour, originality and overall execution. 
 
This year's judging panel all brought a different area of expertise and perspective to the table: 

CARLO SAMMARCO

One of the leading lights of Napoli’s new school pizza scene, known for crafting seasonal, colourful pizzas with serious style. He runs a buzzing 200-seat pizzeria on the outskirts of Caserta, complete with a living moss wall and queues out the door – even in 40°C heat.  

ANTON CHEREPAKH – HEAD CHEF, CAMBRIDGE

Anton is last year’s champ and winner of the Doughdown ‘24. He has been a Pilgrim since 2021 where he started as a senior chef; he’s worked his way to Head Chef last year and is now proudly heading up our Cambridge pizzeria. He’s adored by the team and is already a Pilgrims legend. 

DOMENICO - HEAD OF PIZZA AT PIZZA PILGRIMS

Domenico is the beating heart of all things pizza at Pizza Pilgrims. As Head of Pizza, he’s the master behind the dough and the go-to mentor for every chef in our business. With deep roots in Neapolitan tradition and a commitment to perfection, he’s taught countless team members the art of pizza with flair, humour, and boundless love. Loved by everyone who meets him, he’s not just our top chef – he is the standard of pizza greatness we strive for. 

TOM SMITH - OPERATIONS DIRECTOR AT PIZZA PILGRIMS

As our Director of Operations, Tom ensures every pizza that leaves our kitchens meets the highest standards – no compromises. A true operator committed to quality, service and balance, Tom’s dedication to the craft runs deep. He’s the reason the details matter – from the perfect bake to the final flourish, nothing escapes his eye (or palate). 

These judges really gave it their all – the love, the energy, and yes, even a bit of that delicious tension. You could feel it in the room from start to finish. And after an evening of top-tier pizza and big emotions, we crowned Toni, Head Chef of London Bridge, as our Doughdown ‘25 champion. 

A massive shoutout to our incredible partners who help make the Doughdown extra special – big thanks to Belazu, Casa Julia, Carnevale and Milon Sandford Wines. We seriously couldn’t do it without you. 

You don’t want to miss this one – Toni’s winning pizza lands in all our pizzerias from the 29th of September, as our October special. Come down and grab a slice of the magic.