Countdown to the 10th British Pie Awards in 2018

Judges at the British Pie Awards, including Pierateer Sam

Back for an incredible 10th year - and in British Pie Week no less - the British Pie Awards returns as a highlight of the year in pie. Held in the heart of Pork Pie country, pie makers, pie enthusiasts and - most importantly - the pies themselves head to Melton Mowbray every year for the judging of up to 1,000 pies in just one day and to crown their supreme champion. Back this year in the beautiful St Mary’s Church, located in the heart of Melton Mowbray, the judging will take place on Wednesday 7th March and the Award's Lunch on Friday 9th March.

The British Pie Awards will return to St Mary's Church in 2018!

This year will see the Pierateers return to help judge the over 800 pies sent in from across Britain and beyond. With over 600 pies rated on our pie blog we've had no shortage of pie judging both at and outside the Awards and we'll once again be providing our judging expertise and insightful media analysis of the day with yet another "British Pie Awards - Live!" blog.

So following on from our "British Pie Awards 2017 - Live!" article last year, on Wednesday 7th March we'll be joining around 100 judges and over 800 pies for a pie-filled day of photos, interviews and behind the scenes info!

With last year's judges including Food and Drink TV producer Andy Clarke, Channel 4's Felicity Spector and pie judging regular Xanthe Clay from the Daily Telegraph, in addition to friend of the blog Nik Speller, author Martin Tarbuck - who you may recall has written pie review book "Life of Pies" - and fellow football pie pundit Jonny Smith, we look forward to finding out who we will share a judging table with this year!

And while the British Pie Awards use a significantly different set of criteria to us, rather than the 7 Cs of pie rating that we have used to rate over 600 pies on Pierate, there are very few pie experts they could call on with more ex-pie-rience than us when it comes to judging the pie-fect pie!

Pierateer Rob on Rip Off Britain

Last year was another exciting year for Pierate at the British Pie Awards, with over 4,000 of you viewing our live blogging from the pie event of the year, our post-event review and preview articles.

This year Pierateer Sam will be joining Pierateer Rob in attendance, who you may recognise from TV shows "The Great British Bake Off: An Extra Slice" and "Rip Off Britain: Food".

So what have we got to look forward to at the British Pie Awards 2018?

Well... first of all you need to know how long it is until British Pie Awards 2018, which is happening on Wednesday 7th March at 11am:

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Celebrating the pies that fuel our public services in 2018

The amazing Speciality Class "Bridal Pies" at British Pie Awards 2015

We're looking forward to once again seeing what pie producers come up with in the Speciality Class, following an amazing selection of entries in the 2015 Speciality Class of Bridal Pies, some royally good pies in the "Pies Fit for the Queen" Speciality Class in 2016 and some regional specialities in 2017.

For the 2018 Awards, the Speciality Class will celebrate pies produced in the public sector for vital services including schools, hospitals and the armed forces. Given that they are not sold commercially these pies, whilst in the running to win their class, are not eligible for consideration as Supreme Champion. Although judged to the same standards, and under the same rules as other classes, the pie makers in this category have more freedom to choose fillings, pastry type and presentation. Entrants can celebrate the pies that they are particularly proud to serve in the public sector, but are not available to the general public. We look forward to seeing them!

All that remains to be said is you won't be surprised to hear we will once again be covering the event and providing regular tweet updates from Melton Mowbray as we once again get involved in the greatest pie show on Earth, so check back on Wednesday 7th March for more pies than you can possibly imagine!

RAS