23 Oct 2025
If you like a cheese pull, then you’ll love Japes, who are bringing their deep-dish London Style pizza concept to St Albans.
Located on Chequer Street next to Megans at The Old Bell – in the premises formerly occupied by Benito’s Hat – Japes is set to open its doors this autumn, offering residents and visitors a high-quality pizza experience with London Style, Chicago and New York pizzas all under one roof.
Co-founded in 2018 by Jovana and Alex Aleksic, Japes has become known for its signature “London Style Pizza”, which blends elements of Chicago deep dish, Detroit, Sicilian, and Grandma styles. Its arrival at The Maltings marks the brand’s expansion beyond London, bringing its distinct pizza style to Hertfordshire for the first time.
The Maltings’ centre manager Richard Marrett said: “We are delighted to welcome Japes to The Maltings and are certain that their bold, modern take on pizza will fit perfectly with food-loving St Albans. This opening helps reinforce The Maltings as a retail and dining destination for all ages and will add a new and exciting option for locals and visitors alike.”
Co-founder of Japes Alex added: “St Albans is a vibrant community with a strong appetite for great food! We’ve always believed that pizza can be creative, indulgent, and memorable, and we can’t wait to open our doors at The Maltings and share our London Style Pizza with new friends, making St Albans a big part of our next chapter.”
Japes will offer dine-in and take-out options in their new central St Albans location within the Maltings Shopping Centre, 24-26 Chequer Street.
