Our story.

Welcome!

Thank you for taking the time to read our first ever blog post. we will be throwing out occasional snippets of our story as our journey evolves.

Who and what is Derventio?

Firstly let me introduce myself. I am the who, My name is Andy, I am the Chef and Owner of Derventio Wood-Fired Pizza Co. For over 30 years I have worked in the Hotel, Restaurant and Hospitality Industry. Pizza has been a part of my culinary career for many years, but back in 2020, I began a journey on which pizza making became more of an obsession and in 2024 after much thought any many hours of work, Derventio Pizza was born. Derventio Wood-Fired Pizza Co. is the what.

After purchasing a wood fired oven during the COVID19 lockdown back in 2020, I have spent the last four years perfecting my dough recipe, learning how to use a wood fired oven effectively and sourcing and experimenting with quality ingredients to finally bring something to the table that I’m proud of.

My vast experience in Hospitality has allowed me to not only set up and operate a very customer centric business, but also use my culinary skills to produce fantastic wood fired pizza.

Think of quality wood fired pizza with a Chef’s touch, we combine the traditional with the creative.

Our professional approach to everything we do means that you will have a great experience with us from start to finish.

What is Derventio?? What does it Mean??

Derventio was an important Roman settlement situated near present-day Derby, England. Established around the 1st century AD, it initially served as a military fort before developing into a bustling civilian town. Its strategic location by the River Derwent facilitated trade and communication. Archaeological excavations have revealed a variety of structures, including Roman baths, temples, and an intricate network of roads, highlighting the settlement's significance in the Roman Empire. The remnants of Derventio offer valuable insights into daily life in Roman Britain, illustrating the interplay between military and civilian cultures. Today, the site is part of an area known as Little Chester, which also extends to the former Derby Racecourse. This historically rich site blends Roman heritage with modern sporting events, drawing large crowds for Sunday football league matches and other activities. The surrounding parkland provides green spaces for relaxation and recreation, making it a popular destination for both sports enthusiasts and families. The combination of rich heritage and historical significance makes the Derventio site a unique element of Derby’s cultural landscape.

So while looking for a suitable name for our company, we were met with many disappointments. Every name we came up with we discovered after a brief internet search had already been taken.

I live a stones throw from the Derventio settlement and remember as a child playing on the excavation site on the Derby racecourse hoping to find something significant the archaeologists had missed, alas I found nothing or at least I thought so…….. I’m not sure how exactly the name Derventio then reappeared in my head while on the quest for my new business name, but it did! and it was perfect. A quick search revealed the unique name I had chosen was available and I quickly set about registering it and there you have it. Derventio was born. Wait until you hear about another Roman tie in with our pizza oven, that one is to follow.