Stockholm Pizza takeaway brings Nordic culture to Glasgow's Bridgeton

Italy? America? Maybe even the UK? The surprising answer to the question (well worth keeping in mind for your next pub quiz) is Norway.

It’s a fun fact that we learn early on while chatting with Lee McLaughlin, a pioneering chef who is bringing 'Nordic pizza culture' to Bridgeton with his takeaway restaurant, Stockholm Pizza.

Pictured: Stockholm Pizza on Tullis Street

Explaining the phenomena, he said: “I grew up in Sweden where pizza is a very big thing.

“We didn’t have the same kind of variety when it came to takeaways.

"You couldn’t really get Chinese or Indian food, it was pretty much only pizza.

“Because of that it got to the point where it exploded, and you had pizzerias everywhere cooking to a really high quality.”

Later in life, while living in Glasgow, Lee began to notice the same sort of reverence was not often shared by pizza delivery spots in Scotland.

Having previously worked as a chef, he began to see this as an opportunity to bring his childhood experiences to the city.

Pictured:“The Topopo” pizza

He said: “I had been wanting to bring that kind of culture to Glasgow a few years ago because I noticed that you could only order from big chains at the time.

“That kind of pizza will fill a hole if you’ve been drinking or have a craving, but it’s not going to be very good.

“I ended up moving to Asia for a few years because I was offered a job and by the time I came back to Glasgow, amazing places like Paesano, Baked Pizza and Pizza Punks had opened.

“It was great to see, but there still wasn’t anything quite like the Nordic style that I had grown up with so I knew that I could find my own niche.”

Pictured: A special of Nduja with red onion and red sweet roquito chillies

And so Lee, 42, opened Stockholm Pizza opened on Tullis Street in October of 2021.

Since then the tiny shop has earned its reputation as a true hidden gem thanks in most part to word of mouth from appreciative East End locals.

He said: “I have family who live close to the shop and I’ve always loved the Bridgeton Cross.

“As well as that, I think it's going to be one of the next up and coming areas, similar to the way it’s been for Dennistoun in the last few years.

“It’s often overlooked but it has so much potential.

“When I found the unit that we’re in now it had been empty for years and just seemed right.

“I did feel that I was taking a bit of a risk, but the local community have proved the decision a smart one a hundred times over.

“Everyone has been so warm and welcoming. They’re just amazing.”

Pictured: The 'Bananarama'

Community spirit aside, there's no doubt that it's the mouth-watering pizzas served from the tiny shop that keeps Lee's customers coming back for more.

Although he says the bases for Stockholm Pizza are similar to a New York style dough, it seems an adventurous approach to toppings is what really embodies the Nordic way.

Lee laughs: “There is a banana pizza.

“It is a little crazy but again it’s a homage to the culture.

“They really will do anything with pizza in Sweden, for them pineapple as a topping isn’t even up for debate.

"They wouldn't see anything strange about it.

“I once saw a calzone made with a full hamburger meal, including the fries, baked into it.

“We don’t go that far but it’s nice not to be limited to traditional recipes like you would be when cooking Neapolitan pizza.

“Their recipes are set in stone whereas I have the freedom to go nuts.

“It’s a lot of fun.”

For more information on Stockholm Pizza click here.