Hackney’s Newest Slice of Maximalist Heaven: Inside Bing Bong Pizza

If Pat Butcher’s living room collided with a 1930s Soho speakeasy at high speed, the wreckage would look something like Bing Bong Pizza. Tucked inside the delightfully chaotic You Call The Shots on Morning Lane in Hackney, this isn't just a place to grab a slice, it’s a sensory overload of leopard print carpets, velvet curtains, and disco balls spinning to a synthy funk soundtrack.

But don’t let the louche, late-night vibe fool you. The kitchen is serious business.

Helmed by pizza royalty Rich Goodwin (whose pedigree includes stints at Mike’s and Flor), Bing Bong specializes in NYC "Nonna-style" square pies, thick, indulgent slabs that manage to be both crispy and pillow-soft. But the real secret weapon here isn't the dough, impeccable as it is. It’s the sourcing.

The Local Hero In a city where "farm-to-table" can sometimes feel like a buzzword, Bing Bong walks the walk. Every single ingredient on the menu is sourced locally. You won't find generic industrial mozzarella or tinned tomatoes flown in from across the globe here. Instead, the kitchen is a love letter to British produce.

Take the Mercer On The Dancefloor, a white pie that feels like a warm hug. It swaps out standard Italian pecorino for Spenwood, a hard sheep’s cheese from Berkshire that offers a nutty, caramel-like finish. It’s paired with Sherry vinegar mushrooms and crispy sage that taste like they were plucked from a Kentish garden that morning.

Then there’s the crowd-favorite April O’Neil. It’s a riot of color, featuring a roasted squash purée base (sourced, naturally, from local growers) topped with fennel salami and a drizzle of chilli honey. The sweetness of the squash against the heat of the local honey is a masterclass in balance, grounded by that distinct British farmhouse quality you only get when the food hasn't traveled halfway around the world.

Even the dips are house-made and locally minded, from the punchy Salsa Verde to the addictive Hot Honey. Wash it all down with one of their lethal frozen cocktails (served in red solo cups for that perfect high-low aesthetic), and you’ve got Hackney’s best new night out.

Bing Bong Pizza proves that you don’t need to look to Naples or New York for the perfect slice. Sometimes, the best ingredients are waiting right on your doorstep.