Tips & Tricks
Roman vs Neapolitan Pizza Guide
Roman-style pinsa and Neapolitan pizza differ in their dough, shape, texture and traditional cooking methods. Pinsa is commonly made with a high-hydration dough and shaped
3 November 2026
Nestled in the Warwickshire village of Hunningham, The Red Lion is a traditional country gastropub. It’s located just three miles north-east of Leamington Spa and a stone’s throw from Virtue’s office, it’s a local favourite surrounded by the picturesque Warwickshire countryside.
With a garden overlooking the River Leam, The Red Lion is the perfect place to stop after a countryside walk or cycling adventure. Whether stopping by for a refreshing pint, a relaxed lunch or an evening meal, the pub offers a quintessential country pub experience that we all know and love.
In spring 2025, Ben, Head Chef at The Red Lion, approached Virtue in search of a new pizza supplier to elevate the pub’s menu.
Having previously worked with another supplier, Ben was looking for something a little more premium, with an authentic, artisanal flavour that would complement the pub’s existing food offering.
Ben was thrilled to find out that we were based locally. He popped into our office to collect some samples and took them back to the pub for the kitchen team to try.
The feedback was immediate. Ben loved the quality of the bases and was keen to introduce them to the menu, allowing The Red Lion to expand its pizza offering with a premium product that was simple to both prepare and serve.
The Red Lion currently uses our 12” / 32cm Round Pinsa Romana Bases alongside our Pomodoro Rustic Sauce.
By using both our ambient par-baked bases and rustic tomato sauce, the The Red Lion team has everything they need to create delicious pizzas without the time and preparation involved in making dough and sauce from scratch. All that’s left is to add their chosen toppings and bake.
The pub’s pizza menu features a line‑up of favourites, including Margherita, Pepperoni and Spicy Meat, with plenty more to choose from.
At The Red Lion, pizza is more than just another menu option. It’s also an opportunity to attract customers with a fantastic food and drinks offer and they have done exactly that.
Alongside their main offering, the pub runs a weekday lunchtime pizza offer from Monday to Friday, giving customers the choice of one pizza for £12 with a drink or two pizzas for £20 with two drinks.
The offer is appealing option for couples, friends, families all looking for a reasonably priced meal to enjoy for lunch.
The Red Lion has a great flow of customers, especially in summer, so making dough from scratch is hard to manage alongside a busy pub menu.
“Virtue’s Pinsa Romana bases have made a real difference to our kitchen. We can have a pizza ready in around three minutes, which is ideal during our busiest services. As a small team, saving time on preparation makes a huge difference, and the fact that the bases can be stored at ambient temperature is a real bonus, freeing up valuable fridge space. We love the quality of the bases, and so do our customers. I’d highly recommend them.” – Ben, The Head Chef, Shares His Experience
Here’s what some of their customers have shared:
“On the spur of the moment went for lunch (which I normally don’t do), sat in the sunshine with a superb Pizza and a Glass of PROPER beer (Black Sheep) and all for £10 we had a great time and we’ll be back.” – The Red Lion’s Google Review
“Fantastic pizzas. Lovely garden and by the river. Very enjoyable relaxing lunch.” – The Red Lion’s Google Review
It’s great to see customers enjoying the pizzas as part of the wider Red Lion experience.
Working with The Red Lion has been a fantastic opportunity for Virtue to support a local pub and it’s rewarding knowing that these bases are being enjoyed by their customers.
In October 2026, The Red Lion began purchasing Virtue’s Pinsa Romana Mini Bases, which the team plans to use for garlic bread. This marks another step in the partnership, allowing us to support the pub with additional products that complement their menu.
We look forward to continuing to work with The Red Lion and seeing how its menu evolves.
Interested in working with Virtue after reading this case study? Find out more and reach our team here. Or, if you would prefer, pop into any The Red Lion in Hunningham and try our Pinsa Romana bases for yourselves.
Roman-style pinsa and Neapolitan pizza differ in their dough, shape, texture and traditional cooking methods. Pinsa is commonly made with a high-hydration dough and shaped
Last updated November 2026 What is Pinsa Romana? Pinsa Romana is an Italian, Roman-style base, recognisable for its light, airy crumb, crisp finish and usually
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