London cab that serves pizza shortlisted for award

The 1977 cab belongs to Leo Ferenc, a former photographer who turned to catering during lockdown after business dried up for events photos.

Since then, he has been serving dogwalkers from his coffee cab in Abbot’s Wood forest near Polegate, as well as running his pizza cab for weddings and parties.

Now Pizza Leonati has been picked by the British Street Food Awards as one of 15 best-looking food trucks in the country.

The pizza cab has been very busy for weddings and parties

Leo, 60, said: “I think because we have a taxi, it’s quite unusual. There are lots of trucks which have a pizza oven in them but this is a London taxi and you stand outside and put the fresh dough through the window.

“It’s just that bit more quirky than the average van.

“The competition is all street food trucks from all over the UK. This year we have a pizza taxi so they nominated us along with the trucks.

Serving partygoers at a wedding

“We are delighted, it’s a nationwide award. We came in the top five last year so we’re hoping for lots of local votes to push us one step further.”

Life has been busy for Leo, who lives near Battle, as weddings and parties started to return with the easing of lockdown restrictions last summer.

He said: “It’s been good, we have been at Abbot’s Wood serving coffees. We are now doing lots of weddings, serving canapes and main courses.

Leo Ferenc

“We do a barbecue service too. We also have a new truck which is a VW horsebox which will have hot plates in it, fryer, coffee machine and pizza oven. It’s an all in one thing which can serve functions.

“The pizza cab is just for private events, we do it weekends for weddings and parties. There are some mid-week events too.”

To cast your vote, visit The British Street Food Awards Facebook page.