Children love decorating pizzas. Kids’ Pizza Express parties make the perfect birthday party experience that’s easy for parents too. I looked into booking a Pizza Express party for Ted’s birthday last year but instead did my own cupcake decorating party under a wet gazebo. Although the food decorating part was very successful with the children, it was hard work organising a kids cookery activity party at home myself. I was determined next year I would book something indoors with outside help.
For an easier time this birthday, and no chaos to clean up, I booked a Pizza Express Party in South Woodford. A pizza decorating party was perfect for seven year olds and would equally suit any primary school aged group. We visit Pizza Express Westfield Stratford quite often but chose the best branch for class mates to reach after school.
Of all my son’s birthday parties, this one was the least stress (for me) and the most fun. I was so impressed with how our party went, I would heartily recommend booking one especially for primary school aged children. Here’s what happens at a kids Pizza Express party:
What happens at a kids’ Pizza Express party?
Initially the kids are sent to wash their hands. Then they are sat down and given branded hats and aprons. Every child is allocated a number on their paper Pizza Express hat that they can decorate with stickers and crayons. The pizzas will later be identified by small squares of paper coated in olive oil marked with each child’s hat number.
To start, the children enjoy eating a starter of dough balls and vegetable sticks (and unlimited fruit squash). This is great as it means they are less likely to get cranky if they’re hungry. Next a pizzaiolo chap from the kitchen in black and white stripy outfit comes and gathers the kids around some tables to make their pizzas.
It hadn’t occurred to me how theatrical this pizza making would be!
First the kids get told to prod their balls of dough around the edges. There is flour everywhere!
Next they bash their dough to flatten it. They get very excited doing this. Lots of excited hammering of little fists on tables. It was adorable to watch.
Then the pizzaiolo tosses his dough in their air and the kids all have a go too. Remarkably many of them are very good at it!
Next the dough is pressed into oiled dishes. More bashing and prodding.
Then everyone is allocated a ladleful of tomato sauce to physically shake across their pizza bases.
I can’t tell you how funny this was to watch. Twelve seven year olds frantically shaking pizza plates up and down. And they love doing this, you could see how engaged they were with the whole process. None of them wandered off or were naughty as they were too interested in what they were doing.
Finally a choice of toppings are brought over and the kids can pick and choose what to put on their pizza. The all important number on greased paper is allocated to each child’s pizza so they don’t get mixed up who made which pizza.
Ted showing off his finished pizza before it goes into the oven. The kids are all marched back upstairs to wash their hands again and by the time they return the pizzas are ready to eat. They were all so proud when their little pizzas came out from the kitchen. And so enthusiastic to eat them!
Afterwards the children get ice cream for pudding and we all gathered around the Sooty birthday cake (that I had made myself) to sing Happy Birthday.
Kids Pizza Express parties – What you need to know
The party lasts for just under 2 hours, it took place in an annexed area off the main restaurant away from the other diners. Considering a normal kids dinner menu would cost £6 anyway, the price of £11.95 per child is very reasonable. The minimum number of children for a Pizza Express kids party is seven and the maximum number may vary from branch to branch. We had twelve. A balloon and Pizzaiolo certificate per child are included but you need to provide your own party bags and birthday cake.
Having a waitress to hand out the food, top up drinks and clear tables was far more relaxed than a party at home. Having 2-3 other parents in attendance helps your pizzette from getting up to high jinks in the main restaurant area.
Extra pizza and drinks for grown ups can be billed with the party or separately. I’d booked 2 weeks ahead and paid a £50 deposit. Pizza Express provide printed party invitations which saves you buying/designing these too.
I still came home and collapsed in a heap but at least my house was tidy!!
Have you ever attended kids Pizza Express parties? How did it go?
To check whether branches near you offer kids Pizza Express parties visit their website. This was a self funded review.
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this looks so good.id have it for adults though i wonder why its so much more expensive for them?
i dont think theyd do these at our express in derbshire though.ive never seen it on their page:(