A popular former Stroud bar manager and chef has returned to his roots.
Russell Brookman who ran Bar Nine in John Street, Stroud more than 15 years ago, has been appointed chef at Cattivo Pizza in Cirencester.
With more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry Russell worked as a head chef at a bistro cafe near Antwerp, before returning to England to work as a pizza chef in busy Neapolitan-style pizza restaurants where he discovered his passion for Italian food and particularly, pizza.
Russell is joined by Dan Egan, who is also a seasoned pizza pro. Formerly the owner and head chef at Big Slice Pizza Co, he earned a reputation for crafting exceptional Neapolitan pizzas that garnered a loyal following in Brighton and Hove. After stepping away from Big Slice Pizza Co and relocating to Gloucestershire, Dan is focusing on further honing his skills and sharing his passion for pizza at Cattivo.
Cattivo Pizza, (meaning ‘Bad Boys’ in Italian) opened at the Old Kennels, Cirencester Park in August 2024, and embraces classic Neapolitan pizza-making processes to create simple, high quality pizza bases garnished with incredible ingredients championing seasonality and provenance. Cattivo is situated directly opposite Roots + Seeds Kitchen Garden at the Old Kennels on the edge of Cirencester Park, and just like Roots + Seeds, sustainability is key to everything they do.
The Roots + Seeds team has collaborated with restauranteur, chef and wild game hunter Mike Robinson. Mike created Cattivo’s short, but sensational menu of just six incredible, 12” Neapolitan-style pizzas, and two seasonally changing specials, three starters, two dips and two desserts, including the heavenly Nonna’s Tiramisu. Mike co-owns London’s only Michelin-starred pub, The Harwood Arms in Fulham, and also The Woodsman in Stratford-on Avon and The Elder in Bath.
Cattivo make its own 24-hour slow fermented sourdough to create the perfect nutty, chewy texture for its pizza bases. Garnishes include Mike’s own homemade venison Nduja using deer raised on the local Bathurst Estate, honey from Mike’s own hives, Fior di Latte mozzarella from Glastonbury and locally foraged herbs and fresh produce grown in Roots & Seeds Kitchen Garden.
Cattivo’s divine pizzas also feature top quality and authentic ingredients from Italy, including aged parmesan, burrata, single estate extra virgin olive oil and San Marzano tomatoes for the homemade pizza sauce.
Cattivo Pizza, The Old Kennels, Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire GL7 1UR https://cattivopizza.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/cattivopizza_
Opening Times
Wednesday and Thursday 3pm – 9pm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday 12pm – 9pm
