Checking out Bradford's first PizzaExpress

And when you have a couple of hours to kill before a big screen date with Brad Pitt, there’s only one thing for it. Pizza.

The newly-opened PizzaExpress Bradford is the latest addition to The Broadway’s range of eateries. A short walk from St George’s Hall and the Alhambra, and next to The Light Cinema, it’s perfectly placed for pre-theatre and cinema dining.

My friend and I went along early on a mid-week evening and found it bustling with diners, including young families and couples. We welcomed the friendly, relaxed ambience.

I must mention to the excellent staff. We were greeted by the friendly manager who, instead of herding us to a table right next to someone else, as is often the case in restaurants, asked us where we would like to sit. And the waitress looking after us was so lovely it was like chatting to a friend. Attentive and efficient, without being intrusive, she was a delight.

The restaurant is spacious and nicely lit, with cool festoon lighting strewn across the ceiling. There’s a funky, post-industrial vibe - think ‘urban loft apartment’ - with muted colours, chic artwork, marble dining tables and teal, yellow and rose furnishings creating a warm, inviting feel.

A “theatre kitchen” allows diners to watch pizzaiolos at work, flaring dough and making fresh pizzas to order. The authentic, sociable vibe, and contemporary setting, builds on the vision of PizzaExpress founder Peter Boizot, whose simple ethos - bringing people together over freshly-cooked pizza and good times - has evolved over half a century. The pizzeria is holding pizza-making classes for children; putting the fun into cookery.

The summer menu features three new pizzas - Fungi di Bosco and Roasted Veg & Ricotta from the Romana range and Vegan Roasted Veg Special Leggera - and a new Italian tomato dip.

We browsed the menu over a bowl of olives. I started with a classic - mozzarella tomato salad. Divine creamy buffalo mozzarella, slices of fresh tomato, pesto, basil...I could eat it every day. Susan loved her pea, broad bean and mint arancini; I tried a risotto ball and it was delicious, served with a white bean and basil puree.

Pizzas include Diavolo (hot spiced beef, pepperoni, red onion and Tabasco, with a choice of peppers) Pollo Forza (chicken with hot chilli and peppers) and a good veggie selection. I went for the Roasted Veg & Ricotta, thin crust and a glorious topping of roasted pepper, courgette, aubergine, creamy ricotta, finished with slow-roasted tomatoes and shaved Gran Milano. Mediterranean summer on a plate! Susan chose the equally delicious Fungi di Boscosan, comprising Portobello mushroom, tomato and mozzarella. Sharing a couple of slices, we polished off our pizzas, which were just light enough. Anything heavier resting in our stomachs and we’d have been falling asleep in the cinema...

With vegan and gluten-free options, there’s something for everyone. Pasta dishes include vegetarian cannelloni and lasagna classica, and among the salads is a superfood mix of black rice, edamame beans, quinoa, chickpeas, cranberries, pumpkin seeds, kale and rocket, all under 500 calories. Good, fresh food and a classic Italian dining ethos blended with contemporary chic and a relaxed vibe - I’ll certainly be back.

Too full for desserts, which include passion fruit and orange meringue tart and chocolate and amaretto parfait, we finished with a coffee before heading next door for our date with Brad.

* PizzaExpress, Unit 18, The Broadway, Bradford