Mole Face pizzeria focus

Four-site operator Mole Face is launching an alfresco pizza and ice-cream dining concept at one of its sites.

Enterprise lease the Lord Nelson in Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire, has a large 80 to 90-cover garden with two outbuildings, which are currently used to store coal and glassware.

The company is investing around £35,000 in the venture — £20,000 on converting the outbuildings into a pizza kitchen and ice-cream parlour and £15,000 on new equipment. The pizzeria is due to open on 1 May.

"We are at capacity in the inside kitchen," explains chef and owner John Molnar, who hopes the venture will add around £2,000 to the pub's weekly turnover.

The pizzeria will offer home-made pizzas, which Molnar describes as "authentic with English toppings". Around 10 to 12 will be on offer including lamb & mustard, roast beef and a full English breakfast, inspired by Italian creations such as the Fiorentina. The pizzas will also be available to take-away. A promotion will be run on the pizzas in the first month they are launched to spread the word.

Original ice creams will be on offer with flavours such as apple crumble & custard and jam roly-poly in the pipeline.

The company launched its own range of sauces and pickles four weeks ago, inspired by its pubs' Sunday lunches. The seven sauces, devised by Molnar, include British favourites such as hot horseradish, pickled onions and home-made ketchup. The jars are sold in-house for £1.95 each. "We've sold absolutely loads," said Molnar.

The company ran a January sale across its four sites when all starters, mains and desserts were offered at half- price. During National Chip Week in February all chips were offered at half-price.

The company has also started outside catering, has two weddings booked for the coming year and is hoping to open another pub before 2011.