PizzaExpress. Come on; you know you’re already daydreaming about their pizza, pasta, salads, Dough Balls and more. You want to book – course you do – so where better to head than PizzaExpress Basildon in the heart of Festival Leisure Park? And especially when you see it’s had a super-swanky refurb.

Super-swanky, you say? Yup: the PizzaExpress Basildon restaurant now features striking wallpaper in a mix of colours that give it a really uplifting and lively vibe. You can also choose to eat inside or out (come on sun; let’s have a summer to end all summers) plus you can even watch the restaurant’s Pizzaiolos create your favourite pizza in the open kitchen. Now that’s what we call a touch of theatre brought to your dining experience.

But that’s not all. Oh, no. There’s also a brand new birthday menu, including their hottest-ever Blazing Hot Dough Balls in collaboration with Sauce Shop: PizzaExpress’ hottest-ever Dough Balls, coated in irresistible melted garlic butter and packed with the heat of Sauce Shop’s Original Hot Sauce. These fiery balls of dough really pack a punch and come served with an extra side of dipping sauce for those who like it extra spicy.

There’s new pizzas, too, like the Queen Margherita – a twist on the Margherita but with a creamy burrata ‘crown’ in celebration of PizzaExpress’ birthday. And don’t even get us started on their Golden Caramel Chocolate Dough Balls, paired with salted caramel sauce and caramel chocolate dip, finished with gold dust for added celebratory flair. Oh, yes.

PizzaExpress Basildon: the perfect place for families, mates or dates. We’ll see you there.