When you think of Portuguese food it may well be a global chain beginning with N you think of – but an upstart wants to challenge their dominance in Preston.

Sitting in New Hall Lane in what they described as ‘takeaway alley’ is the newly opened Novus Pizza.

It’s been a lot of takeaways over the last few years and sits next to the former Acregate pub.

Owner Pat Lopes said the menu takes the Portuguese heritage and ensure the menu reflected this.

Pat said: “Yes of course people think of Nandos when they think of Portugal and its food, but it’s not all just Peri Peri and all that.

“We cook in a very homely way and I want to give restaurant standard food in a takeaway form. There’s lots of traditional Portuguese food on the menu.”

The menu has cheaper street food options as well as a small selection of Portuguese mains. It all sits alongside a standard pizza takeaway menu, which Pat says is to cater for those wanting a late-night snack down a street which isn’t short of places to eat.

Pat said: “We went for opening down here as it is so much cheaper. The rates in the city centre are so high that there’s no way we could make it work.

“I was working in Preston and commuting from Manchester, so now I decided to take the plunge and open my own business.

“At the moment we have kept the menu tight in terms of the Portuguese specials because we want to see what the customers like.

“Francesinha is our signature dish. It is porto sausage, ham, steak and cheese all put between two pieces of toasted bread. We then cover it in a beer sauce. It is an acquired taste but those who love it really do.

“For the street food I wanted to give people what I used to get on my way home in Portugal at 3am after a few beers, the hot dogs and bifana is a hard one to do as very few butchers will cut the pork as thin as I need them to.”

Novus – which means new beginning in Latin – secret weapon is the Tostadas.

At first it looks just like a garlic bread but this is something different, with roasted vegetables sandwiches in between, the taste is superb.

They are also working hard on their vegetable and vegan options.

Alana-Jade who is helping Pat to grow the business said this is a gap in the Preston market.

Read more: Little Vegan takeaway opening in Ashton-on-Ribble

She said: “There is one dedicated vegan takeaway but for many other people it’s a case of asking for an option at a takeaway and then adapting it. It’s not made specially for vegans.

“Novus has options for vegans and they do a special bolognese which is made with tofu for the meatballs.”

The takeaway has signed up with Deliveroo, which recently launched in Preston, but Pat said they were favouring their own delivery because of the high charges levied by Deliveroo on the takeaways in terms of commissions.

Read more: Restaurant review at RK Sweets in Plungington

Pat said: “If things go well then we will start to expand the Portuguese options on the menu. I’ve had a few people ask for things they know about in Portugal but at the moment we can’t.

“But I hope in time we can and also in the future I hope things get to where we need to be and we will be able have a restaurant in the city and have space for 15-20 diners.”

The takeaway is also planning to offer a lunchtime service to Preston businesses.

Read more: Taste test at Fino Tapas in Preston city centre

Novus Pizza is on Facebook and has a four out of five stars for food hygiene.