Billericay Urban Italia opened - all you need to know

Steve Haslam, a local businessman and owner of The White Horse pub on Heath Road, has invested £40,000 to transform a former South American eatery into what he hopes will become “the number one Italian restaurant in Essex.”

The new restaurant, Urban Italia, replaces Urban Fresh, which previously offered a South American-themed menu.

Stunning - Inside of Urban Italia (Image: Steve Haslam)

After a complete revamp, Haslam and his team have switched focus to Italian cuisine, serving up a full menu that includes fresh pasta, pizza, and even a few familiar pub classics.

Urban Italia had a soft launch this week, giving diners a sneak peek of what’s to come, before the official grand opening today.

Mr Haslam said: “We are really excited by this.

Wow - Some of the food on offer (Image: Steve Haslam)

“Before, we had Urban Fresh with a South American theme, but we wanted to do something different, a bit lighter, fresher, and hearty.

“We happened to have three guys that worked and spent a lot of time in Italy, and a chef that is Italian-trained, so we went with Urban Italia.”

The restaurant's ambiance adds to its appeal, with graffiti-adorned walls inspired by the street art found in major Italian cities, creating what Haslam describes as “a very cool vibe.”

Calming - The new stunning décor (Image: Steve Haslam)

Haslam has plans to incorporate a hint of Italian flair into the menu at The White Horse pub as well.

Although the pub will maintain its own menu, there will be a few Italian-inspired additions, while Urban Italia offers a complete dining experience with table service and a robust Italian menu.

For those who can’t decide, there is a small selection of pub favourites on the menu at Urban Italia, blending the best of both worlds.

Yummy - A taste of Italian (Image: Steve Haslam)

“Our Urban in Ely has just become the number one restaurant in Ely, so it will be nice to work on this one and hopefully make it the number one Italian restaurant in Essex”, said Haslam.

The new restaurant’s opening comes shortly after The White Horse pub was listed for sale by its brewery for £1.38 million.

Despite the listing, Haslam reassured locals that the pub will continue to operate “well into the future” and won’t be affected by the potential sale.