The Approach unveils a fresh pizza menu worth travelling to Nottingham for

The Approach has long been a fixture on the Nottingham social calendar, a converted Victorian building on Friar Lane where Premier League goals, Six Nations tries and Formula 1 overtakes share wall space with weekend live bands. Now the venue has added another reason to pull up a stool: a completely redesigned pizza menu built around hand-stretched bases, slow-fermented dough and toppings pulled from both British and Mediterranean traditions.

For anyone in Melbourne, Sydney or Brisbane planning a UK trip, or simply hunting for a place that combines proper pub atmosphere with a serious slice, the new offering positions The Approach as a destination kitchen rather than just another sports bar. The team has kept the classics loyal to their roots while giving the chef room to experiment with bolder combinations, and the drinks list has been quietly rebalanced to match.

A Nottingham institution with a sports bar at its core

The Approach sits a short walk from the Old Market Square, tucked between the city's law courts and the theatres, and it has built a loyal following among students, office workers and weekend crowds. The interior keeps its high ceilings, exposed brick and long bar, but the wall arrangement is dominated by more than a dozen HD screens. Football, rugby, cricket, golf, boxing and motorsport all get airtime, and the sound system is dialled so that commentary feels present without drowning out conversation.

For visitors used to dragging themselves out of bed at 5am AEST to catch a Premier League kick-off back home, the time zone shift works in reverse here. Lunchtime in Nottingham lines up neatly with prime-time viewing in Australia, and the kitchen keeps running from noon until late. The venue also leans into touring acts and themed nights, which keeps the room buzzing even when the fixtures are quiet and the tables might otherwise empty out.

What has changed on the new pizza menu

The new pizza menu replaces a smaller, more functional list that had been in place for several years. The chef has introduced a 48-hour cold-fermented dough, a tomato sauce built on San Marzano-style tomatoes with a hint of oregano and basil oil, and a mozzarella blend that combines low-moisture Italian and a softer British fior di latte. Bases are stretched by hand, cooked at high heat and finished on a stone deck for an even char.

Portion sizes have been nudged upwards without inflating the price point too aggressively, and the menu now lists twelve named pizzas plus a build-your-own option. There are also two smaller starter pizzas designed for sharing alongside a cocktail, which fills a useful gap between a bar snack and a full meal and gives groups a reason to order more than one between them.

Standout pizzas to order first

The most talked-about addition is the Nduja and Hot Honey, a riff on the spicy Italian spreadable sausage that has become a staple of modern British menus. The base carries tomato, mozzarella, torn nduja, charred red onion and a drizzle of hot honey that cuts through the fat. It is the kind of pizza that works beautifully with a cold pale ale and rewards anyone who likes a little heat on the finish.

The Truffle Mushroom is the vegetarian head-turner. Wild mushrooms are cooked down with garlic, thyme and a splash of white wine before going onto the base with mozzarella, taleggio and a generous finish of truffle oil and grated parmesan. It is rich, so splitting a twelve-inch between two is a sensible move rather than trying to take one on solo.

For a more traditional choice, the Margherita DOC stays faithful to the Neapolitan template, while the Quattro Formaggi leans British with the inclusion of mature cheddar alongside the Italian quartet. Australian visitors who grew up queuing at wood-fired chains in Surry Hills or Fitzroy will recognise the style immediately, though the Approach version pushes the char a touch further for crunch on the cornicione.

Beers, cocktails and food pairings that work hard

The drinks team has paired the new menu with a refreshed selection of beers and ales, including local Nottingham breweries, rotating IPAs and a guest stout that tends to disappear on weekend nights. Cocktails have also been recalibrated, with a new Pizza Hour running from 4pm to 7pm on weekdays when slices and short drinks are priced to clear the post-work lull.

Wine drinkers are not forgotten. A small but considered list of Italian reds sits alongside a house Primitivo that stands up to the heavier meat pizzas, and a chilled Pinot Grigio pairs well with the seafood-leaning options. For anyone who wants the full English pub experience, the Sunday roast is still on the menu and now comes with the option to add a half-pizza starter for the table.

Watch the match, eat the pizza, stay for the band

One of the strengths of the new pizza menu is how it slots into the venue's broader rhythm. A typical Saturday starts with early kick-offs on the big screens, rolls into a relaxed lunch where pizzas and sharing boards hit the tables, and builds towards an evening set from a live band or DJ. The kitchen keeps orders moving during half-time so nobody misses a key moment, and the bar team is used to handling large groups ordering multiple rounds at once.

Midweek is more food-led, with quiz nights, racing screenings and occasional sports-related appearances. The Approach has a soft spot for boxing and UFC, and the new pizzas were stress-tested during a recent pay-per-view night when the team served more than two hundred slices without a hiccup. It is the kind of operation that takes the food as seriously as the fixtures.

Booking, events and the Sunday roast habit

Tables can be reserved through the website, and the venue is happy to handle larger bookings for birthdays, work outings or travelling supporter groups. For anyone curious about the wider story behind the venue, the team has written a short piece on why the approach exists and how it has evolved over the years, which is worth a read before a visit.

The Sunday roast remains a cornerstone of the week, with locally sourced beef, chicken and a vegetarian option, all served with proper Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and seasonal vegetables. Booking early is sensible for any party larger than four, especially on weekends when the city fills with shoppers and theatre-goers. Live music listings, sports schedules and the latest pizza specials are all updated regularly on the venue's social channels, so following along in advance avoids disappointment.

If you are weighing up where to eat in Nottingham and want somewhere that combines a genuine sports bar atmosphere, a serious kitchen and a drinks list worth lingering over, The Approach deserves a place on the shortlist. Drop in for a pizza, settle in for a match, and stay for the band.