The Collaboration Everyone’s Talking About
There is something quietly brilliant about a collaboration that feels unexpected but entirely right. This month, Crust Bros and Daffodil Mulligan come together for a limited-edition pizza that leans into indulgence, Irish provenance and just the right amount of theatre. The result is the Guinness Rarebit & Sugar Pit Cured Bacon Pizza, a rich, smoky interpretation of modern Irish cooking, reimagined through Neapolitan technique.
At the centre of it all is Richard Corrigan, whose Daffodil Mulligan has long been known for bold, fire-led dishes and a deep respect for Irish produce. Translating that identity onto a pizza could easily have felt gimmicky. Instead, it lands as something genuinely exciting.
The Pizza: Rich, Smoky, Indulgent
The base arrives first, and it sets the tone. Crust Bros’ signature dough, proved for 24 hours, is baked into that familiar leopard-spotted crust, airy, slightly charred, with just enough chew. It is the kind of crust you notice, not just tolerate.
From there, the toppings do the heavy lifting. A velvety Guinness rarebit forms the base, creamy and deeply savoury, layered with Peter Hannan’s sugar pit cured bacon, which brings a subtle sweetness and depth that cuts through the richness. Spring onions and chives add lift, while a drizzle of Guinness BBQ sauce introduces a smoky finish that lingers just enough. It is finished with shaved Coolea cheese, adding a nutty sharpness that ties everything together.
It is, unapologetically, a rich pizza. But it works. Not in a novelty sense, but in a way that feels balanced and satisfying. Each bite lands somewhere between comfort and depth, the kind of dish that feels indulgent without tipping into excess.
Beyond the Headliner
Outside of the headline collaboration, the wider menu leans into the same idea of elevated comfort. The Cheese Fondue Bomba is exactly what it promises, a deep fried brioche filled with mozzarella, parmesan and smoked mozzarella béchamel, finished with a delicate parmesan tuile. It is indulgent to the point of being almost theatrical, intensely cheesy, rich, and very much a dish to share unless you are fully committing to the experience.
The Lasagne Bomba offers something slightly more composed. A deep fried lasagne sheet encases a slow-cooked six-hour ragù and béchamel, delivering all the familiar comfort of a classic lasagne but reworked into something more playful. It is rich, yes, but there is a depth to the ragù that keeps it grounded.
Sides are where the meal finds its balance. A simple peppery salad cuts cleanly through the heavier dishes, light, fresh, and necessary. The nduja fries, meanwhile, lean back into indulgence, crisp on the outside, soft within, with just enough spice to keep things interesting without overwhelming.
Alongside the Daffodil Mulligan collaboration pizza, the Big Poppa delivers a more classic option. A double pepperoni situation done properly, generous, slightly smoky, with crisped edges and that same excellent crust holding it all together. It is a reminder that while the collaboration draws you in, the fundamentals here are strong.
What to Drink
To drink, a bottle of Alma de Vid Blanco keeps things light. Crisp and floral, with a clean, dry finish, it does exactly what you want from a house white in this setting. It cuts through the richness of the food without competing with it, refreshing between bites and quietly lifting the whole meal.
The Setting: More Soho House Than Pizzeria
What perhaps surprises most is the setting itself. This is not your typical pizza spot. The interiors lean more towards a polished, members’ club aesthetic than casual pizzeria. Warm terracotta walls, soft ambient lighting that still feels bright enough to linger, and an overall finish that feels elevated rather than functional. It sits somewhere between relaxed and refined, think Soho House, if it decided to specialise in Neapolitan pizza.
Service That Gets It Right
Service follows suit. Friendly, attentive, and paced well enough that you never feel rushed, but never left waiting. There is an ease to it that makes the whole experience feel seamless.
The Final Word
For every Guinness Rarebit pizza sold, £1 is donated to the Irish Youth Foundation, adding a layer of purpose to the collaboration that feels aligned rather than performative.
Available until the end of April across all Crust Bros locations, this is one of those limited runs that actually feels worth catching. Not just for the novelty of the collaboration, but for how well it delivers. A little indulgent, a little unexpected, and exactly the kind of thing London does best when it gets it right.
Locations:
Crust Bros Waterloo: 113 Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UL
Crust Bros Covent Garden: 29 Bedford Street, London WC2E 8JF
Crust Bros Earls Court: 14 Lillie Road, London SW6 1TT
Book here.
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