Street food success story El Capo’s Pizza to open first-ever restaurant at new Bustler Derby destination
Independent hospitality and events operator Bustler has announced another major trader for its new St James Yard development in Derby city centre, with fast-growing street food favourite El Capo’s Pizza set to open its first-ever permanent restaurant at the destination later this year.
What started as a lockdown project inside a converted horsebox on a family driveway has grown into one of the region’s best-known independent pizza brands, serving festivals, pop-ups and private events across the UK.
Founded by partners Ben Trivett and Steph Blest-Stone in 2021, El Capo’s Pizza has built a loyal following for its authentic Neapolitan-style pizzas, cooked over fire using dough that takes three days to make from scratch.
Now, after five years on the road and weekends serving more than 700 pizzas a day at busy festivals, the business is returning to its roots in Derby for its biggest step yet.
Founder Ben grew up in Spain and learned to make pizza at the age of 15 before later training across Spain and Italy. The Spanish influence still runs through the business today, including the name itself – ‘El Capo’, meaning ‘the boss’.
Alongside classic Neapolitan pizzas, the new Derby site will also feature inventive topping combinations, Spanish-inspired influences and a range of sides.
Bustler’s new St James Yard development will feature around 20 shipping containers arranged across two levels, bringing together chef-led food concepts, restaurants, bars, independent retail and service-led businesses alongside indoor and outdoor social spaces.
Bustler has also taken on a neighbouring building backing directly onto the development, which will become home to Dukes, a new Buxton Brewery taproom serving exclusive small-batch beers alongside private hire and event space.
The wider development aims to create a modern independent high street, combining food, drink, retail and creative businesses in one vibrant city centre location.
Olivia Pritchard, Managing Director of Bustler, said:
“El Capo’s is exactly the kind of brand we love working with. They’ve built an incredible following completely organically through great food, hard work and personality.
“There’s a really genuine story behind the business, from starting out in a converted horsebox during lockdown to now opening their first permanent restaurant in their home city.
“The food is amazing, the brand is brilliant and we know people are going to be really excited to see them join St James Yard.”
Andy Darke, Events Director of Bustler, added:
“One of the things that stood out immediately about El Capo’s was the quality and authenticity. Ben has trained across Spain and Italy and you can taste that experience in the food.
“They’ve already built a huge audience through festivals and events, so we think they’re going to be a massive draw for the site.”
Ben said:
“El Capo’s started as a small project during lockdown and honestly just snowballed from there.
“We converted an old horsebox on the driveway into a pizza trailer and suddenly we were travelling all over the country doing events, festivals and pop-ups.
“Opening our first permanent restaurant in Derby feels really special because this is home for us. We’ve built such a loyal customer base locally over the years and can’t wait to finally have a proper base in the city.
“We take a lot of pride in the process. The dough takes three days, every pizza is stretched by hand and cooked with fire, and we love combining traditional techniques with big flavours and personality.”
Applications to join the development have now closed following strong interest from independent brands across the UK.
Further trader announcements will be made over the coming weeks ahead of the opening later this year.
Bustler Derby will transform an underused city centre site into a vibrant new food, drink and social destination, bringing fresh energy to Derby city centre.
For more information, follow Bustler Derby on social media. Instagram: @bustler_derby. Facebook: facebook.com/bustlerderby.
