Pizza history: the original Franco Manca is relocating after 15 years

Franco Manca was at the forefront of the Neapolitan pizza movement in London that has since swept across the UK over the past decade and a half. The business was founded Giuseppe Mascoli and Bridget Hugo in 2008 with the opening of the restaurant in Brixton Market.

Two months later, the restaurant expanded to the premises opposite to double its capacity following huge demand for its sourdough pizzas, with people regularly queueing to try one.

The restaurant took its name from the original 1986 Brixton pizzeria on the site that was called Franco’s and which was named after its owner. The name Franco Manca translates as ‘Franco is missing’ and is a reference to the restaurant.

In March 2015, Franco Manca was bought by The Fulham Shore and the chain has expanded to around 70 sites in the UK in the past 15 years.

In April this year Fulham Shore was sold​​ to the Japanese company Toridoll, which also owns restaurant groups Wok to Walk and Marugame Udon.

Franco Manca describes the closure of the restaurant as 'soon' and says that it is relocating to a much bigger site just down the road from the original site.