Exclusive Visit to the Infamous Pizza Express Branch in Woking
The Mirror's Julia Banim recently visited the Woking branch of Pizza Express, a location that has become infamous as the alibi of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. While birthday parties continue to be celebrated at the restaurant, it appears unlikely that the former prince will be welcomed back for a slice anytime soon.
The Notorious Alibi That Captured National Attention
The entire nation watched in awe as the King's brother was arrested last week, but the humble town of Woking had already been rocked by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's fall from grace long before he was taken into custody. From the outside, this chain restaurant on an ordinary street looks like any other Pizza Express branch. However, this particular establishment launched a thousand memes after unexpectedly providing an alibi for the former prince.
This is, of course, the Pizza Express in Woking, the infamous venue of a birthday party allegedly attended by Princess Beatrice on March 10, 2001. Andrew claims he took his eldest daughter to this celebration on the same day that Jeffrey Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre alleges she first met and had sex with the then-duke. While the late whistleblower claimed they danced together at London's Tramp nightclub before having sex at Ghislaine Maxwell's mews house, Andrew insists he was at the pizza parlour with his daughter. He has vehemently and consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with paedophile Epstein.
The Memorable Newsnight Interview That Lingers in Public Consciousness
Andrew, now 66, notoriously brought up this humdrum location during his 2019 'car crash' interview with Newsnight's Emily Maitlis. When pressed on how he could remember such a mundane event from so long ago, Andrew, then known as Prince Andrew, replied with a slight smug smile, "Because going to Pizza Express in Woking is an unusual thing for me to do, a very unusual thing to do." This turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of the ex-prince's toe-curling interview, which continues to linger in the public consciousness.
Behind the scenes, it has been reported that Beatrice was 'blindsided' by Andrew's decision to use her as an alibi, with reports indicating the furious princess had a heated discussion with him after the interview. One source claims Beatrice has "absolutely no recall whatsoever" of that specific birthday party in northwest Surrey, or of her father picking her up.
Local Reactions and Google Review Satire
Following Andrew's recent arrest and release on suspicion of the unrelated offence of misconduct in public office, so-called diners have flooded the branch's Google reviews page with jokey reflections of their visits. Referencing Andrew's recent brush with the law, one reviewer deadpans, "Not really a review, but was just wondering, do you deliver to prison? Asking for a friend who loves your establishment. Thanks."
With a note to Andrew's apparent medical condition, which allegedly prevents him from sweating, another quipped, "I've never been, but my friend Andrew absolutely loves this establishment. Profuse sweating is an issue for him, but thanks to your world-class air conditioning, he didn't sweat at all."
On-the-Ground Reporting from the Infamous Venue
As the former prince grapples with the ongoing police probe, our reporter went for dinner at the infamous branch to see how staff are faring and whether locals ever believed the royal who claimed he couldn't sweat. For our reporter, a visit to Pizza Express is nothing unusual, but a visit to the Woking branch most certainly is. Arriving shortly after 6 pm on a slightly blustery Sunday evening, the air rang with clinking cutlery and upbeat pop music. The place was bustling, and it was clear the restaurant's reputation hasn't suffered for being so closely tied to the most shocking royal scandal in living memory.
This odd connection may have actually been good for business. After all, is there a better-known branch anywhere on the British Isles? They do say any publicity is good publicity, and for local woman Karen Weir, the spotlight that the drama has shone on the town has been a welcome one. Karen told the Mirror: "I've lived in Woking a long time and it's good to see Woking mentioned! But it doesn't really bother me. I don't see it as a negative."
Scepticism and Frustration Among Woking Residents
Not all locals share this sentiment, however. After spending a few hours in the town centre, our reporter became accustomed to the familiar eye roll at the very mention of Andrew's name, and the frustration that attention isn't being paid to more pressing matters, such as rows of forlorn shuttered shops not far from that distinctive blue welcome to Woking sign.
For others in the area, the very notion that the Queen's son was at Pizza Express on the night in question is nothing short of ridiculous. Pouring scorn on this narrative, Barbara was even more blunt, telling the Mirror: "I'm not embarrassed by it because I don't believe it. I just don't know why he'd do that, it's ridiculous, because if he'd have been in there, Woking's the sort of place where everyone knows what everyone's doing. If he'd been in there, it would have been swamped. And people would have known about it straight away. There's no way. There's no way that man was in there that night. Absolutely no way."
Staff Professionalism and Local Humour
Over at Pizza Express, staff were busy but friendly, quickly cleaning up a cosy corner table for our reporter. Admittedly, there was some feeling of being conspicuous as the only solo diner amid a sea of family tables, many with young children. But if staff have been briefed on how to deal with curious members of the public, there was no sign of it as they politely took the order. They presented the very picture of serene professionalism, despite the gossipy questions they've surely had to deal with from friends and family.
Perhaps, like other locals, they've learned to deal with the spot's notoriety with a typically British dry sense of humour. Our reporter caught one woman's eye while taking photographs outside, and they immediately shared a knowing smirk. Those in the area are no strangers to reporters milling around this very average-looking street. Finding humour in the ridiculousness of the saga, Craig, who is originally from Zimbabwe, told us: "Everyone around just thinks it's a bit of a joke. They're just keeping with the banter and making lighthearted jokes about it."
Mixed Feelings and Poignant Observations
Another local woman, Emma, sums up the mixed bag of feelings in the area well, telling us: "I think it's a lie for one thing. It's kind of a funny association, because why pick here? I don't think it's tarnished the town in any way. It's just infamously put us on the map, and if you've looked at the reviews from Pizza Express after it, they were all hilarious, saying, 'yep, it's a good place for an alibi', things like that! So it's kind of, you know, British self-deprecating humour came through. But I would rather he didn't associate with the town. What's come out and what he's allegedly done."
As our reporter poured a solitary Diet Coke, a Happy Birthday chorus erupted from one of the packed tables, creating a strange echo from Princess Beatrice's friend's apparent bash all those years ago. This was the first of multiple Happy Birthdays that evening. This spacious branch features ambient lighting that gives it a relaxed, slightly upmarket feel. Well situated right in the heart of Woking, it's easy to see why this might be a popular choice for gatherings.
The Dining Experience and Local Pride
The food was also good. Pizza Express has long been a high street favourite, long before it hit the headlines, and the Funghi di Bosco, Romano style, was well-cooked and piping hot. Our reporter couldn't resist the light, refreshing lemon-and-raspberry cheesecake with gelato either. As the night wore on, families were joined by couples, old and young, some collecting boxes to take home with them. There were certainly no signs of this being a slightly macabre royal landmark, up there with the Tower of London or the burial vaults of St George's Chapel.
Our reporter enjoyed the meal so much that it was easy to forget the troubling reasons that brought her to this chilly evening. Indeed, other more positive aspects of Woking life are celebrated here, including a framed quote from iconic singer-songwriter and Woking native Paul Weller, which reads, "I'd like to think I've left something in the world. Without in any way trying to be morbid, but life is very short, and I'd like to think I'd leave some body of work that would inspire other musicians long after I've gone."
There's also a quote from Weller's band, The Jam: "Better stop dreaming of the quiet life, 'cos it's the one we'll never know." This quote feels eerily poignant given last week's extraordinary developments for the fallen prince, who was pictured leaving the police station after 11 hours of custody slumped in the back of a Range Rover, looking particularly shell-shocked.
Conclusion: A Plucky Town Grappling with Royal Notoriety
It's clear that there's a certain plucky pride to Woking, the setting of HG Wells' War of the Worlds, and a hugely influential hub of Mod culture. More than just a handy London commuter town, this spirited town and its residents have plenty to say about that 2001 visit from a largely unwelcome out-of-towner. While it may rankle and bemuse locals in equal measure, it appears as though the unsavoury Pizza Express Andrew connection is here to stay. The restaurant continues to operate normally, serving families and couples while staff maintain their professionalism, but the shadow of the royal scandal lingers in the collective consciousness of this Surrey town.
