March 29, 2024

Big win for West Yorkshire piemakers at 2019 British Pie Awards

West Yorkshire has seen enormous success as a region at the 2019 British Pie Awards, with six piemakers from the region taking home accolades of Class Champion or Highly Commended at the awards on Friday, 8 March in Melton Mowbray.

This year’s British Pie Awards saw close to 900 pies entered from a staggering 176 professional pie makers. Undergoing a gruelling, day-long judging process from over 130 top pie experts, the pies received their accolades based on a range of criteria, including appearance, texture and taste.

Known for its ‘gate to plate’ offering and home-made artisan food, The Butcher and The Baker has been named Class Champion in the Beef and Ale Pie Class for its quirkily-named Moo and Ale Pie. Its Minty Lamb Hotpot Pie also received a Highly Commended accolade in the Lamb Pie Class.

Pie Eyeds proper pies achieved it the title of Class Champion in the Chicken and Vegetable/ Herb Class for a Chicken, Leek and Tarragon Pie, while Yorkshire Pie Bakery won Highly Commended in the Cold-Eating Savoury Pie Class for its Pork, Apple and Stuffing Pie.

Stephensons Butchers and Di’s Pies both put forward delicious Steak and Kidney Pie creations and were rewarded with Highly Commended accolades in the Steak and Kidney Pie Class, while Jones Pies took the Highly Commended title for its The Crock Pasty, in the Pasty Class.

This year’s Awards saw the first ever Vegan Pie Class join the ranks of 23 pre-assigned categories, and received the second highest number of entries with 68 pies. A Curried Sweet Potato and Butternut Squash Vegan Pie took home, not only the Vegan Class Champion title, but the Supreme Champion accolade of the British Pie Awards – the winner of winners, the “Pie of Pies”.

2019’s “specialist class” championed another of the nation’s favourite staples: the Fish & Chip Shop Pie. A Steak and “Scale” Ale Pie, by The Cods Scallops fish and chip shop restaurant in Nottingham, was awarded Class Winner.

Matthew O’Callaghan, Chairman of the British Pie Awards, said: “Over the past 11 years we’ve judged over 8,000 pies from every corner of the UK and each year we’re still staggered by the creativity, quality and tantalising flavour combinations. We truly are a nation of talented bakers, butchers and chefs with an unwaning passion for good food!

“It goes without saying that the British Pie Awards would not be what they are today without our many judges, sponsors, volunteers and – of course – all the pie makers. Congratulations to all who took home awards and we look forward to seeing what the nation’s producers have in the “pie-pline” for next year.”