Fresh pasta experts Pasta Evangelists has announced the opening of its first Pasta Emporium in Richmond, with a second opening in Greenwich hot on its heels.

The new openings will offer an entirely new take on Italy, with previously forgotten fresh pasta shapes made by hand on site and served to customers from the locations’ open pasta counters. Customers can choose to dine in or take away, via digital screens or from the counter. And, of course, there’s a fleet of terracotta Vespas on hand for Pasta Evangelists deliveries to customers’ homes, too.

Whilst customers wait to indulge in their fresh pasta delicacies (think lobster tortellini or slow-cooked beef and Chianti ragù), they can watch Pasta Evangelists’ chirpy chefs crafting pasta from scratch in the store window, all while luxuriating with a complimentary glass of wine and soaking up the sun-drenched interiors.

In creating its ‘pasta emporium’ concept, the Pasta Evangelists team has focussed on the small details that make guests feel at home. Aside from the theatre of in-store pasta-making and never-seen-before pasta shapes, visitors are treated to cheese-free tunes from an all-Italian funk and soul-rich store playlist curated by the London DJ, Norsicaa. There will also be free weekly wine tastings (free of charge for the local community), informal Italian lessons over a giant antipasti platter, and kids’ pasta-making sessions on Saturdays. Guests will also enjoy seeing rare plants and cacti from forgotten parts of southern Italy, curated by landscape artist Mo Helmi (who previously designed Soho Farmhouse’s green concept).

Pasta Evangelists’ convivial setting will also provide a hub for high quality, fuss-free local gastronomy. Customers are able to order classic Pasta Evangelists classes like its cult ‘Carbonara of Dreams’, as well as other top hits like its truffle mac’n’cheese – as well as an array of plant-based and dairy free options. And if guests can’t decide on just one pasta dish, they’ll be able to order an exclusive ‘Half & Half’ dish, enabling them to try two different dishes for the price of one.

Thirsty for more? Pasta Evangelists has teamed up with Carnevale, an expert in Italian cuisine and viniculture, to provide guests with high quality wines that complement its dishes – staff have been trained to provide pairing suggestions, too. For something quirkier, Pasta Evangelists has also brought in an eclectic selection of natural and organic wines from Top Cuvée – including a fabulously camp ‘Italo Disco’ special.

Alongside the selection of fresh pasta dishes, a quality range of traditional antipasti will be available to order, including tomato and rosemary focaccia, mini calzone pizzas, and delectable Italian desserts including Pasta Evangelists’ famous tiramisu, lemon tarts and gelato assortment.

Each site will act as an ‘Italian hub’ within the local community, bringing together friends, families, and new customer faces. The Greenwich site, opening later this summer, will host a large communal table, allowing customers to enjoy their pasta dishes all together – the Italian way. The Emporiums will also run regular pasta-classes, with Head Chef Roberta and her vibrant team teaching all the necessary skills and techniques to make fresh pasta from scratch, as taught in the brands’ flagship Farringdon Pasta Academy. Weekly classes will take place in each location, with private classes available to book for corporate events, birthdays, hen do’s and children’s parties.

In addition to this, free weekly events will be on offer for the local community, ranging from pasta making classes for children, to complimentary antipasti spreads, and regular wine tasting events led by special guest sommeliers and producers.

Alessandro Savelli, CEO of Pasta Evangelists, states, “We’re delighted to launch our first franchise sites in Richmond and Greenwich. As Pasta Evangelists continue to expand, we’re constantly looking to innovate and elevate our pasta offering, and the new franchises will allow us to do exactly this. Not only will a variety of fresh pasta be served in a matter of minutes, but we are also providing a complimentary glass of wine to customers waiting for their meal, free weekly events for the local community, and a warm, Italian hub where customers can enjoy their food either in the restaurant, or at home. After 7 years of operating as a digital business, we are so looking forward to welcoming customers into our new homes.”

Following the brand’s rapid expansion, including the recent launch of its first pasta factory in 2023, the brand will roll out a further 20 premises over the next 5 years. The Richmond site will be opened in partnership with AMSRIC, a successful franchisee who recently sold 70 + operating sites across the South of England. The interiors and exteriors of both locations have been inspired by Italian culture and lifestyle, by renowned designer Afroditi Krassa.