London’s foremost food market operator, Kerb has announced some fresh new additions to the line-up at Kerb at The Understudy bar at the National Theatre, London.
This autumn sees traders Bad Boy Pizza Society and Mumbai Mix joining the line up alongside Lucky's Hot Chicken - making the National Theatre’s food offering among the most exciting to be found in any of London’s iconic cultural venues.
From its inception, Kerb has prided itself on introducing diners to new food vendors, while at the same time developing up-and-coming talent in street food.
From their background in cooking contemporary takes on the New York slice, Bad Boy Pizza Society will use The Understudy site to launch BBPS Squared, their take on Sicilian-style deep-pan squared pizza, available to order whole or by the slice.
“We are super proud to be launching not only our third location, but our third pizza concept; at the iconic National Theatre,” shared Bad Boy Pizza Society.
“With our knowledge from our recent New York research trip, we will be the first pizzeria bringing the Sicilian-style pizza to London, with a bunch of crazy flavours. This is our second location with Kerb, who have always pushed us to keep experimenting and having fun with new ideas.”
Meanwhile, Mumbai Mix prepare their ambitious and distinctive take on Indian street food by way of Kenya, serving vegetarian and vegan Indian Thali and mouth-watering Mumbai toasties. Having graduated from Kerb’s inKERBator programme in May 2022, this will be their first bricks-and-mortar site.
“The location of The National Theatre exposes us to a global audience which resembles the international influences of our dishes,” said Mumbai Mix.
“Our food brings in our Indian and Kenyan cultures, stories of our upbringing in our small Kenyan town, and our connection with British farmers and the growing seasons, in a menu that encompasses the dishes that have been eaten in India for centuries alongside those that are devoured today in the streets of Bombay.”
The two new traders will help Kerb at The Understudy build on recent success underpinned by Lucky's Hot Chicken, whose Nashville-style hot chicken and sides have already drawn crowds to the National Theatre since the launch last year. “We’re extremely proud to be staying on at The Understudy with Kerb,” said founder Ben Cook.
“To be involved in such an iconic London venue has been a privilege and the National Theatre has become our spiritual home. We’re super excited to build upon the success of last year and keep the South Bank spicy!”
Alongside these food offerings, the bar at The Understudy serves the well loved roster of independent drinks suppliers Kerb is known for. The everchanging line-up of Gipsy Hill beers and guest ales is joined by cocktails and spirits from East London Liquor Co. and wine from the best independent makers, as well as soft drinks from Square Roots Soda.
Kerb opened Kerb at The Understudy in September 2021, extending a partnership with the National Theatre that sees it operate the venue’s food and drink operations.
With the addition of Bad Boy Pizza Society and Mumbai Mix, and a prime location on London’s South Bank, the ongoing success of Kerb at The Understudy means the National Theatre has become one of the area’s most talked about locations for food, for those attending performances, people working nearby or anyone else frequenting the South Bank over the autumn and winter months.