Whether you’ve been bracing the wind in Regent’s Park or ducking into a local pub to escape a drizzle, the city has a way of leading you toward the nearest sugar fix. Usually, that’s a pint or a cuppa, but right now, everyone is heading to a legendary deli in St John’s Wood.
If you haven’t spent a morning wandering through the leafy streets of NW8, you’re missing out on one of the capital’s most sophisticated corners. Nestled right in the heart of the neighbourhood is Panzer’s Deli, a local institution that has been serving up iconic bagels and smoked salmon since 1944. But lately, it’s the smell of bubbling caramel coming from the Circus Pizza counter that’s stealing the show.
The Sticky Toffee Pudding Pizza at Circus Pizza
The mastermind behind this latest sugary crossover is Kit Delamain, the chef at Circus Pizza who clearly isn’t afraid to break a few traditional Italian rules. After the massive buzz surrounding the Portuguese custard tart pizza, many wondered what could possibly come next. The answer arrived in the form of one of Britain’s most beloved desserts reimagined on a sourdough base.
The process starts with a thick, velvety layer of caramel sauce used as the “pizza sauce” base. It’s popped into the high-heat oven until the edges of the dough are perfectly charred and the caramel is bubbling away. Once it’s out, the pizza is loaded with chunks of soft honey cake—made right there in the deli—before being drizzled with even more caramel and a final dash of cream.
The result is a fascinating push and pull of textures: the soft, spongy cake against the crispy, chewy pizza crust. It’s incredibly rich and definitely very true to the spirit of a classic sticky toffee pudding. While it might sound a bit unhinged to some, the combination of sweet toppings and salty, charred dough actually works like a charm.
At £10, it’s a total steal for a dessert experience this unique, but word to the wise: don’t try to tackle this one alone. It is exceptionally sweet and definitely designed for sharing between two or three people.
Practical information
📍 13-19 Circus Road, St John’s Wood, London NW8 6PB
📅 Wednesday to Sunday for Circus Pizza (The deli is open daily)
💸 £10