Forza Peckham: The UK’s Happiest Place to Work for 2024

Forza, in Peckahm, started out as a pop-up before moving to its permanent residence in Rye Lane.

It has grown over the years and there are now two more restaurants in Camberwell and the National Theatre.

Forza, in Peckahm, started out as a pop-up before moving to its permanent residence in Rye Lane. (Image: Dashti Jafar) This year, the restaurant was rated as the happiest place to work in the CODE Hospitality Happiest Place to Work awards for 2024 sponsored by Toast.

Forza was named as this year's winner with a happiness score of 766.5 and an advocacy score of 9.3, based on surveys from its 100 staff across its three sites.

The business was named winner by judges on account of its staff welfare and community projects, creating work experience and entry-level roles for vulnerable or at risk 16–18-year-olds.

The business was named winner by judges on account of its staff welfare and community projects. (Image: Sam Harris)

Founder Bash Redford said: “We've always put people at the forefront of what we do and as a result, have met (and worked with) some exceptional human beings.“

The restaurant first began over a decade ago in 2012 as a supper club and after a successful five years Bash decided to turn the business into a permanent restaurant.

The restaurant, in Rye Lane’s Cornerhouse, was formerly the offices of the lawyer for the Kray brothers, where guests can drink wine and eat food with views of the London skyline.

Guests can drink wine and eat food with views of the London skyline. (Image: Dashti Jafar)

The restaurant was created in collaboration with Bash’s “childhood friend” and chef Michael Lavery, serving a menu of 10 dishes that change seasonally which are designed to be “shared with mates for a feast and a good time.”

Some of their most popular dishes include the Cauliflower fritti, soft serve and Custardo according to Bash.

But if you prefer a sit-down meal experience, Forza’s Camberwell restaurant serves a “proper” five course Italian meal where guests can enjoy dishes like Tagliatelle and Butterflied Mackerel.

The restaurant was created in collaboration with Bash’s “childhood friend” and chef Michael Lavery. (Image: Dashti Jafar)

Describing the restaurant’s aesthetic, Bash described it as ‘leaning into older parts of Italian design” whist still remaining a “functional” place to eat and drink.

Forza has also had its share of celebrity visits, including a time where it was visited by actor Morgan Freeman, who “called up to book the whole place for lunch.”

Bash said: “I remember he said it was the best bowl of pasta he’d ever had, which to this day I regret not recording.”

Bash described it as ‘leaning into older parts of Italian design” whist still remaining a “functional” place to eat and drink. (Image: Dashti Jafar)

Speaking about his staff, Bash explained that they come from all walks of life, ranging from chefs at some of the UK’s “greatest restaurants” along with students through their partnership with Leiths.

Speaking on being named as the UK’s best place to work for 2024, Bash said: “It means the world.

“It helps us to prove the theory that hospitality is a great place to build a career, not just a stop gap.

“To think that this started as a pop up on a rooftop and is now the happiest hospitality place to work with a team of 100 blows my mind.”