TO say we love Rudy’s Pizza here at Taste of Manchester is an understatement. Our original verdict stands: ‘Delizioso Napoli on a plate in Little Italy’.
OK, maybe the dogleg dining area was a bit awkward and lovers of the thin, crispy base found the 24-hour proved could find the dough on the chewy side, but the lengthy queues that formed to get a slice of the Ancoats action are proof of one of Manchester’s great recent success stories.
So you can understand why in April Mission Mars, operators of Trof, Gorilla and Albert’s Schloss, purchased a stake in the Kate and Jim’s indie business. Object obviously to make dough out of it (sic).
Confirmation of that came this week with plans (leaked to Manchester Confidential) to open a second branch in the city centre, as it happens a groundfloor space in Petersfield House on Peter Street that formerly housed the Army Careers Centre. Next door neighbour: the lucrative Schloss.
It only looks a matter of time before they ‘grow the brand, ‘roll out the concept’. If this happens we sincerely hope they don’t dilute the product.
Rudy’s founders pizza obsessives Jim Morgan and Kate Wilson may now be able to afford a diamond-studded collar for the pet pooch the business is named after but the city needs such globally acclaimed standard-bearers to keep on rocking.
They were pioneers of the Ancoats indie scene, lately boosted by their pasta alter egos Altrincham’s Sugo announcing their arrival in the district early in 2018. Caveats aside, it is good too to see the less cool Peter Street on the rise again. Just like Rudy’s crusts, as we write.
Rudy’s Pizza, 9 Cotton Street, Manchester M4 5BF. 07940 577932.
