‘Yes, you could fit 100 people in UK’s biggest Domino’s, but there’s no need’
Most of us have enjoyed, or at least tried, a Domino’s. But have you ever dined in? Sean McPolin went to try out the largest sit-in branch in the UK, to see how it compares to balancing a box on your lap in front of the telly...
Pizza has been a takeaway favourite for every family for decades, whether it be the plain old cheese and tomato margherita, a meat feast, garlic pizza bread or even new vegan options which have made their way onto the menu.
But how often do you actually go to a pizza restaurant to order your food, sit down and enjoy it, rather than having it delivered to your door after taking a 60second break from whatever Netflix’s new hottest show is to order it online.
I scoffed when I was told the biggest dine-in Domino’s restaurant was in Kent. Maidstone town centre or Canterbury city centre were the two destinations which popped into my head initially, maybe even somewhere in Medway.
But no, you’ll find the pizza chain’s biggest eatery on the outskirts of the Weald, at a parade of shops in Loose. Having opened in 2016, it’s a place I’ve driven past hundreds of times and ordered from online, but had no clue how big it was on the inside or that it was the largest in the country. After the initial shock, the idea of heading out for a pizza, picking up and eating it in store was actually quite exciting. Perhaps a sign of the times, but it brought back memories of sitting with friends or family at the Pizza Hut in The Mall shopping centre in Maidstone – which has now been turned into an estate agents – and enjoying the all you can eat buffets.
I’ve also got history with Domino’s, having worked at the Maidstone site near Sainsbury’s as a delivery driver for a year before I headed to university.
So when parked behind the shop parade in Loose, next to the health centre, I headed into the store and was pleasantly surprised when the aroma of freshly-cooked dough hit me. It was like a boot-cut version of the Ratatouile scene when Anton Ego remembers his mum’s signature dish, except this time it was a chubby ginger-bearded man getting flashbacks to the smell of three large pizzas filling his Peugeot 206 with mouth-watering fumes.
The next thing which caught my attention was the sheer size of the place. The other Maidstone site could probably fit around five to six people on the customer side of the counter, while this place could easily fit 100 people – although they’d be packed in like sardines.
Bar stool seating by the window for a first-class view of Loose Road is coupled with more than a dozen low tables and regular seating.
Domino’s trivia and facts are plastered all over the walls in the traditional blue, white and red house style – for example, did you know there’s not a word for pepperoni in Japanese, or that in 1999 the pizza chain introduced its website to make ordering pizza even easier? Despite having at least 50 seats for people to sit down, and it being 6pm on a Tuesday, the place was deserted and there were only four people in there – myself and my partner and another couple waiting for their order.
I was let down when I found out it wasn’t a sit-in experience and a Domino’s worker wouldn’t be coming to our table and taking my order.
Instead, you have to stroll up to the counter, browse a couple of flimsy menus and order. After about 20 minutes staring at the interactive screen which told you how long your pizza would be, I went from being told it would be seven minutes, to five, to seven again, to eight, back down to five, up to seven again, and then ready.
I went for the combo deal which cost me £34.99 and was handed two medium pizzas, a large bottle of coke and two “sumptuous” sides – wedges, which were the only vegan option for my companion, and garlic pizza bread.
I also got a chick’n’mix box, which has chicken strips, chicken wings and spicy chicken kickers, and brought the overall cost to just over £48.
Now, there’s not much I can say about the food that you won't already know.
But being in store to collect it piping hot and sitting down to eat it will always give you a better appreciation for the quality of the food.
Albeit slightly more dangerous as it’s so hot, the fresh, warm yet soft dough is a perfect release after a day of work. Domino’s has always in my opinion been the best pizza chain around, fending off the likes of Pizza Hut and Papa Johns, but it’s quite expensive, which can be a problem and isn’t a match for authentic Italian heavyweights such as Vesuvius in Maidstone. Around £35 for two pizzas, sides and a drink when you can get the equivalent for around half the price at your supermarket will always beg the question whether it’s worth it.
But it definitely is, in my opinion, for the food and experience. It’s the first time I had “eaten out” in a while and provided a nice escape from falling into the routine of sitting in front of the TV with your dinner.
The atmosphere wasn’t exactly bustling, and the 50plus seater restaurant only had one table in use, which was slightly dirty.
The open plan design of the store, where you can see the freshly-cooked dough and pizzas being made, was better than the closed-off kitchen design and can take your eye away from staring at the dodgy interactive update screen. Overall, it was an enjoyable experience and one I’d consider doing again before just ordering online in a flash. And it’s nice to be able to say I’ve eaten at the UK’s largest dine-in Domino’s.
Food: The best of the takeaway chains. Even better that it was served fresh and hot. But it’s not better than a traditional Italian restaurant **** Drink: A large bottle of coke, ice-cold, and they even gave us some cups to use ***
Decor: Enjoyable trivia scrawled across the walls which provide talking points. Tables and stalls are standard but quite crumby ***
Staff: Friendly, quick and helpful. Didn’t rush you to order, but also didn’t seem too bothered if you did order **** Price: Pizza chains will always seem expensive to me. A £35 deal isn’t dreadful for eating out when you take into account it’s essentially two starters and two mains, but the price always makes me wince nevertheless ***