The countdown to British Pie Week has begun!

British Pie Week 2020 - which runs from Monday 2nd March to Sunday 8th March - is now just two weeks away and we're busy at Pierate HQ making our final pre-pie-rations for the big event! We're planning another Birmingham Pie Night (like the Pie Night we had in 2018) and we will be keeping our eyes on the pies as the British Pie Awards are once again happening in British Pie Week too!

British Pie Week 2020 is from 2nd to 8th March!

For those who aren't in the know, in Britain we need a whole week to celebrate and enjoy the wonder of pie, which is why we are proud backers and - some would argue - have been the strongest advocates of British Pie Week! Yes, put simply it is a whole week to enjoy the beauty of the pie!

Some of you may well have come across British Pie Week before, which has in fact been around since 2007 as the ingenious marketing spin off of pastry company "Jus-Rol" - and they managed to bag the lucrative web domain www.britishpieweek.co.uk to encourage pie makers up and down the land to get involved. However in an obscure turn of events, it appears they have ditched this lucrative web domain again this year to re-direct straight to the generic Jus-Rol website and no real mention of pies or pie week! With the @BritPieWeek twitter account having not tweeted since March 2016 it appears Jus-Rol may have had their pie and eaten it, meaning we may be defaulted to be the premier resource for pie advice this British Pie Week!!!

And while others may have used British Pie Week to just promote some pastry, as good as it is, we at Pierate are dedicated to promoting THE PIE!

That's why on Pierate you won't just find an encouragement for you to make a pie this British Pie Week - though we certainly do encourage you do! We don't just suggest a reci-pie or two - though we plan to do that as well! We don't even just encourage you to go out and eat a pie (or two) during British Pie Week. We go above and beyond!

It's official! The British Pie Week 2020 logo has been launched! For pie makers and pie sellers, feel free to use it to celebrate all things pie this British Pie Week!!

The Pierate Logo Pie made for us in British Pie Week 2014! Find out more about this Nice Pie here.

We aim to be the pie experts you turn to for all your pie rating and eating needs during British Pie Week and beyond! With over 650 pies rated and reviewed on our unique 7 Cs pie rating system, we commend pies to you, tell you which ones to avoid, and give you the low down on what we think makes the perfect pie!



Also on 4th March pie companies from up and down the land will be having their pies rated at the British Pie Awards, where we have helped judge the pies for many years, with the results due out on Friday 6th March. After many years of service there we won't be attending this year, but we will keep an eye on the results. While last year was controversially won by a vegan pie, with the maker of the BBC documentary being filmed about the awards just happening to tweet "you couldn't write a better script!", we wonder if it will be back to a normal pie contest this time around or once again be the PR awards. All eyes will be on Melton Mowbray on Friday 6th to find out!

So whatever pie (or pies!) you enjoy in British Pie Week, we hope it's a good one that rates well on the 7 Cs of pie rating! If you need any ins-pie-ration, you can of course see the hundreds of pies we've rated on our pie blog via our Pie Rankings or our Pies Categorised!

Why not watch our short video clip to find out how you can get involved in British Pie Week too and make a #PiePledge!

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Judges at the British Pie Awards, including Pierateer Sam

The day of the British Pie Awards has arrived! Held in the heart of pork pie country - Melton Mowbray - the scene is once again set for around 100 judges to rate well over 900 pies from across Britain and beyond! Of course you won't be surprised to know we've been invited again this year - having been a judge, media or helper at the British Pie Awards since 2013 - and this year Pierateer Rob will be there as judge and media to give you the inside scoop of what takes place - Live! Plus check out this exciting news about the Pie Awards being filmed this year:

Some serious kit here ⁦@BritishPies⁩ ⁦@BBC⁩ filming a 30 min documentary of the #britishpieawards ... to be screened in this summer ⁦@bbcemt⁩ ⁦@BBCLeicester⁩ ⁦@meltontimes⁩ ⁦@MeltonBC⁩ ... & by the way, it’s #BritishPieWeek pic.twitter.com/9RFMFZO8U5

— Stephen Hallam (@MMporkpieman) March 5, 2019

The 11th annual British Pie Awards heads home to St Mary's Church in the heart of Melton Mowbray once again. And as well as looking forward to seeing lots of our pie friends at the Awards, we're looking forward to sharing our ex-pie-tese with fellow judges and providing the inside scoop with some media coverage too.

As you may know 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 625 pies on Pierate) but there are very few pie experts with more ex-pie-rience than us when it comes to the pie-fect pie!

So check back here during the day for live blog posts below and on Twitter and we hope you enjoy hearing about the British Pie Awards 2019!



9:30 It seems amazing to think that a whole year has passed by since the last British Pie Awards but here we are again, travelling up to the greatest show in pies! It's just Pierateer Rob attending this time round and he is on his way on the train from Birmingham now.

9:35 It's great to see Cross country trains have added free WiFi to their train service - makes live blogging so much easier!!!

10:00 Just been familiarising myself with the Judges briefing pack ready for later! Wonder what category I will have this time - having done "Other meats" on my last judging visit!

10:15 Just left Leicester train station - next stop Melton Mowbray!!

10:35 I have arrived in Melton! Time to find some pies!!!

Arriving at St Mary's church in Melton Mowbray

10:50 So confirmation that I am on Class 13 - Chicken and other meat! I'm in the same class as fellow pie blogger Katie Peel, our newest Honourary Pierateer!

11:10 Apron collected and now it's time for the judges briefing to commence, to welcome everyone and fill everyone in on what is happening today.

The trophy's are on display!

11:25 We have just had our briefing and are now going to file into the main hall ready for the control pie, which shows how the head judge would score a pie.

TV cameras are in place this year for a BBC documentary

11:30 Matthew, the chairman of the Melton Mowbray pork pie association, is thanking all the judges and the sponsors of the pie awards.

11:35 Reverend Kevin from St Mary's church has just blessed the pies, as is traditional for the awards. That means it's almost time to rate!!

11:40 The head judge Colin Woodhead is going through the control pies - one cold pork pie and one hot beef pie - to say why he would give the scores he has.

11:50 Let the judging commence!!! I'm judging with Sue Woodall, from ladies in pigs, who has judged 7 or 8 times now. First up in the chicken and other meats category is a chicken and ham hock pie! The first of many, I predict...

12:15 The judging is in full flow. Mainly chicken and ham but a few with haggis or chorizo to mix things up!

Melton Mowbray pork pies

12:45 I have been doing the rounds to find out how others are finding it and there are certainly some intriguing flavours - especially in the speciality meats and game pies class. Lots of venison (including one with dark chocolate) plus a duck and blueberry pie and rabbit pie.

13:00 Once again the top table (class 1) is the Melton Mowbray pork pies - all judged in pairs. Looking fantastic!

13:10 A few pies have had to be disqualified due to being over weight and a pasty definitely snuck into the beef pie class but overall people seem to be enjoying themselves!

13:25 Just been speaking to TV's Andy Clarke who is looking very patriotic (pastryotic?!) in a union jack shirt. He has enjoyed a number of venison pies in the speciality meat and game class.

13:35 A mix bag in the free from class, with a lot of steak and ale pies in there. Some pastry holding together better than others!

13:40 Our last pie wasn't a cracker but overall the standard was pretty high. Some definite gold medal winners and will be interested to see who made our chicken and other meats class winner!

13:50 Still judging going on in some of the larger classes but we're all done for the day, with our top 3 selected. Fellow pie blogger Katie Peel had a chicken and haggis pie but lots of chicken and ham too.

14:00 Filming is complete for the day. Looking forward to seeing the documentary later this summer about the awards! Check out the British Pie Awards Twitter feed on Friday to find out who wins it all!!

Pierateer Rob assessing the final 3 pies!

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The winners at the 11th annual British Pie Awards will be announced on Friday 8th March on the @BritishPies twitter feed and updated on the British Pie Awards website.


If you want to find out more about the British Pie Awards 2019, check out our Countdown to the British Pie Awards article.


Did you know? This is the fourth time that the British Pie Awards are happening in British Pie Week, following a successful but controversial first time out in 2016 when a pasty was crowned supreme champion and a more regular win for Dickinson and Morris Pork Pie in 2017 and Turner's Pies Steak and Ale Pie in 2018.

RAS

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Judges at the British Pie Awards, including Pierateer Sam

Back for their 11th 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. Having returned last year to the beautiful St Mary’s Church, located in the heart of Melton Mowbray, the judging will take place on Wednesday 6th March and the Award's Lunch will be on Friday 8th March.

The British Pie Awards will again be in St Mary's Church in 2019!

This year will see Pierateer Rob return to provide media coverage of the Awards, where last year 962 pies were sent in from across Britain and beyond. With over 625 pies rated on our pie blog we've had no shortage of pie judging both at and outside the Awards, so this year we will let others have the pie-leasure and instead focus on insightful media analysis of the day with yet another "British Pie Awards - Live!" blog.

So following our "British Pie Awards 2018 - Live!" article, on Wednesday 6th March we'll again be providing a pie-filled day of photos, interviews and behind the scenes info!

With previous years 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 pie author Martin Tarbuck - who you may recall wrote pie review book "Life of Pies" - and fellow football pie pundit Jonny Smith, we look forward to finding out who will be judging this year. And we will also be recognising newly crowned Queen of Pies AND our latest Honorary Pierateer Katie Peal at the Awards!

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 625 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 5,000 of you viewing our live blogging from the pie event of the year, our post-event review and preview articles.

This year providing the media analysis once again will be Pierateer Rob, 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 2019?

Well... first of all you need to know how long it is until British Pie Awards 2019, which is happening on Wednesday 6th March at 11am:

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Celebrating the Great British Chippy in 2019

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 fantastic pies available in the public services in 2018.

For the 2019 Awards, the Speciality Class will celebrate pies sold in the Great British Chip Shops up and down the country!

This year there are expected to be more pies than ever following the announcement of another new category - the Vegan pie class. Unsurprising following the rise of Vegan food in the past few years, including a number of vegan pies and even exclusively vegan pie shops, this is a welcome addition to the classes at the Awards in 2019. Plus there will also be a new award for the Best Young Piemaker!

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 6th March for more pies than you can possibly imagine!

RAS

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Ben, Pierateer Rob and Pierateer Sam at the British Pie Awards 2018

The 10th annual British Pie Awards took place just a few short weeks ago and we were delighted to once again be there for judging and full media coverage via our Live feed! 

Held in the heart of pork pie country - Melton Mowbray - we saw a record 146 judges rate a record 963 pies from across Britain! And we were delighted to share on Day Five of British Pie Week that the British Pie Awards Supreme Champion of 2018 was Turner's Pies!

🏆‼️ WE DID IT ‼️🏆

Absolutely honoured to be named the SUPREME CHAMPION 2018 at this years #britishpieawards #BritishPieWeek

Our Steak & Ale Pie overcame stiff competition from 963 other pies to be crowned #1 In the UK.

More news to follow soon...MR T@BritishPies pic.twitter.com/0yTfZvMDUJ

— Award Winning Pies (@TurnersPies) March 10, 2018

And after their win, Turner's Pies immediately set their eyes on another award - this time becoming the number 1 pie on Pierate!

Thanks guys, we were waiting for the official press release before we told the world but it seems that’s not coming today. We’re chuffed! Only accolade we need now is no1 pierated!!

— Award Winning Pies (@TurnersPies) March 9, 2018

Back to the Awards judging on Wednesday 7th March and we were glad to be back where it all began as the 10th annual British Pie Awards headed home to St Mary's Church in the heart of Melton Mowbray. You may remember that last year the Awards took place at an alternative local venue while the church was refurbished but I can confirm it was well worth the wait, as the new renovations looked great and the church really is the home of the Pie Awards!


After a three hour trip from Gloucester to Melton Mowbray via Birmingham, Pierateers Sam and Rob, ably accompanied by friend of the Pierateers Ben, arrived for the 10th annual British Pie Awards. It was the first time we'd driven to the Awards and after a light breakfast and coffee upon arrival, it was time to head to see the newly refurbished church. We weren't disappointed! And having settled in, it wasn't too long before new chairman Colin Woodhead conducted the all important judges briefings, where consistency in judging was the main point stressed to the judges.

Then it was over to Chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association Matthew O'Callaghan to welcome people and share a few top tips about judging, before the Vicar of St Mary's church in Melton Mowbray blessed the pies with a brief prayer, thanking the pie makers for all their hard work in baking! Amen to that!!

St Mary's Church in Melton Mowbray

The Pork Pie Class at the British Pie Awards 2018

There were once again a number of celebrities judging the pies, in particular TV's Andy Clarke on the Pork Pie Class and food critic Charles Campion. And we were delighted to catch up with a number of friends of the blog such as Katie "AwayDayPieGirl" Peel and "Life of Pies" author Martin Tarbuck, as well as Awards hosts Matthew and Stephen Hallam.

As always there were a number of interesting occurrences, such as controversy in the Savoury Pie (cold) class as a pie with a stilton lid - rather than pastry - got disqualified and a chicken and banana pie was rated in the Chicken pie class! Plus there were once again some interesting flavours in the Speciality Meat and Game Pie class. Rabbit, venison, wild boar and duck pies were among the entries there!

Speciality Meat and Game Pies

So who were the big winners and notable entries in the British Pie Awards 2018? Some of the pie-lights this year included:

- As previously mentioned, Turner's Pies from West Sussex grabbing the big prize - the Supreme Champion 2018 for their Steak and Ale pie. This was also followed up with the win in the small producers award category too! Many congratulations to them - we look forward to getting our hands on one to rate soon!

- Lesson Family Butchers winning the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie class. This was a turn up for the books, as last year the Supreme Champion was from this class, but this year the Dickinson and Morris Pork Pie didn't even win the class!

- Ben's Kitchen - who won the small producer award last year - won the Beef and any flavour class for their Beef Bourguignon pie.

Stephen Hallam and Pierateer Rob!

- MyPie London won the Chicken and other meat class with their Chicken, Smoked Ham & Tarragon pie, which follows on from last year's vegetarian class win! (You may also be aware we pie rated this chicken pie a massive 6.39/7 when we reviewed it!)

- The Speciality Meat and Game pie class was won by Stanbury Wild Game Pies, whose pies we ate at the end of British Pie Week (see Day Six and Day Seven reviews) and which will be formally rated in the next week.

- The Apple Pie class was won by none other than Graham Aimson, whose name may well ring a bell as in the past he won the class (and Supreme Champion) when working for Morecambe FC but this year won the class while working for Kendall Rugby Club! Find out more about Graham's transfer here.

The full list of winners can be found on the British Pie Awards website.

Once again there was a great array of top pies made from hundreds of pie makers (many small producers of less than 5 employees!) It certainly reminds us we have many more pies to set sail towards on the Pierate Ship! We'll keep searching these Great British Isles for more top pies and, as always, let you know how they all rate on the 7 Cs of pie rating!!

RAS

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Judges at the British Pie Awards, including Pierateer Sam

The day of the British Pie Awards has arrived! Held in the heart of pork pie country - Melton Mowbray - the scene is once again set for around 120 judges to rate well over 900 pies from across Britain and beyond! Of course you won't be surprised to know we've been invited again this year - having been a judge, media or helper at the British Pie Awards since 2013 - and this year we're there as judge (Sam) and media (Rob) to give you the inside scoop of what takes place - Live!

More than 900 pies entered from a record 179 piemakers. Around 120 judges will spend about 4 hours chomping their way through the best pies in the land. What's not to like!

— British Pie Awards (@BritishPies) February 27, 2018

As great as the alternative venue was last year, we're glad that we'll be back where it all began as the 10th annual British Pie Awards heads home to St Mary's Church in the heart of Melton Mowbray. And as well as looking forward to seeing lots of our pie friends at the Awards, we're looking forward to sharing our ex-pie-tese with fellow judges and a close friend of the blog Ben (who is kindly taking us to the awards and being a fellow judge alongside our very own Pierateer Sam).

As you may know 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) but there are very few pie experts with more ex-pie-rience than us when it comes to the pie-fect pie!

So check back here during the day for live blog posts below and on Twitter and we hope you enjoy hearing about the British Pie Awards 2018!



8.30 It's been another early start for Pierateers Sam and Rob but they are now on their way to Melton Mowbray for the British Pie Awards 2018! This is the first time they've done the journey by car (thanks fellow judge Ben!) and we look forward to chatting pie and building up to the greatest show in pie on the car journey there!

09:15 So we're going along a number of lovely country side roads to avoid some traffic on the way to Melton Mowbray. Conversation in the car has included how much is too much for a pie? and how good are MyPie? (who Chris Evans keeps discussing on BBC Radio 2!)

09:51 Three hours from Gloucester and two hours from Birmingham but we have finally arrived in Melton Mowbray!!! Show us the pies!!!

10:15 So we've had a light breakfast as pie judging commences in about an hour but we're already getting in the zone and taking in the ambiance.

Calm before the storm...

11:00 The head judges have had their briefing and now it's the regular judges getting their briefing! Colin Woodhead the new chairman is telling all the judges what to look for in a good pie!

11:15 Consistency is the key advice for the judges as they get ready to go to their tables! Soon to have the official opening remarks!

11:20 Chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association Matthew is welcoming people and sharing a few top tips about judging today.

11:25 The Vicar of St Mary's church in Melton Mowbray - where the pie awards are being held again this year - has just blessed the pies with a brief prayer thanking the pie makers for all their hard work in baking! Amen to that!!

St Mary's Church in Melton Mowbray

11:30 It's time for the control pie - which allows judges to get used to the marking criteria the British Pie Awards use. (Just remember not to fill yourself up before the proper pie judging commences!!)

11:40 With the control pie done it's time to get cracking on the actual category pies! Who's going to win a gold? Who will be supreme champion? We'd better get pie rating!!

12:15 The church is abuzz right now. Having spoken to a number of judges already, there are lots of great pies being judged!


12:35 Controversy in the Savoury Pie (cold) class as a pie with a stilton lid - rather than pastry - got disqualified!!

12:45 In the beef and any flavour category, pie blogger Katie Peel (@awaydaypiegirl) has enjoyed a number of great flavours but the beef and haggis pie stood out!

13:05 The pies are still flowing out of the ovens as we enter the third hour - with some interesting flavours in the Speciality Meat and Game Pie class. Rabbit, venison, wild boar and duck among the entries!

Speciality Meat and Game Pies

13:10 "Is it a pie? Or isn't it?" Conversations are going on between judges and there are seemingly some products that don't appear to really be pastry encased...

13:45 Some of the pie classes are starting to decide on their top 3 (which are the pie makers that get invited back on Friday for the unveiling of the class winners) but others are still in full flow!

14:15 More pie classes are starting to draw to a close and the top 3 pies in each class are being chosen. The top pie in each will be considered by the head judge to choose our supreme champion!



14:40 And with that the pie awards are done! The top pie in each class is being moved to the champions table and tables are now being packed away!

14:45 Thanks to all those who have stopped by for chats and we'll write up a full article soon, after the results are out on Friday!

Stephen Hallam and Pierateer Rob!

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The winners at the 10th annual British Pie Awards will be announced on Friday 9th March on the @BritishPies twitter feed and updated on the British Pie Awards website.


If you want to find out more about the British Pie Awards 2018, check out our Countdown to the British Pie Awards article.


Did you know? This is the third time that the British Pie Awards are happening in British Pie Week, following a successful but controversial first time out in 2016 when a pasty was crowned supreme champion and a more regular win for Dickinson and Morris Pork Pie in 2017!

RAS

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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

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And the winner of the British Pie Awards 2017 is… a pie!!!

Read all the winners on the British Pie Awards website

We never thought we’d have to start any review of the British Pie Awards with such an obvious statement! But then again, we never seriously though that the British Pie Awards (or should I say British Pie and Pasty Awards?!) would let a pasty enter, let alone award a pasty the title! But then this happened:


"Controversy as a pasty triumphs at the British Pie Awards" – headlined the Telegraph, who happened to include quotes from world leading pie review blog Pierate Pie Reviews

"The winner of the 2016 British Pie Awards is…a pasty" – headlined the Metro, who happened to include quotes from world leading pie review blog Pierate Pie Reviews

Heck, even the Plymouth Herald newspaper chipped in with “Outrage as pasty from CUMBRIA wins British Pie Award” – oh and for the record, they also referenced the world leading pie review blog Pierate Pie Reviews!

The Regional Pies Class at the British Pie Awards 2017

So after all the controversy surrounding the British Pie Awards 2016, which of course meant we couldn’t review the Supreme Champion for the first time since 2013 - as we’d never touch a pasty with a barge pole – you can imagine our relief when the overall winner was announced as a pie! And not just any pie, but a Pierate Highly Recommended pie that we’d rated a few years ago!

So many congratulations to the Supreme Champion pie from the British Pie Awards 2017 – the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie from Dickinson and Morris.

At 6.15/7 it was awarded Pierate Highly Recommended status when Pierateer SJL pie rated it in 2014. Certainly deserving of awards, the British Pie Awards compare Stephen Hallam must be delighted to not only help run the awards but sell Dickinson and Morris Melton Mowbray Pork Pies at his local shop in the town centre, Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe! You can imagine there will be an increase in sales follow this title win, and in a recent email sent out from the company they said they were “supremely proud” to announce they had been crowned Supreme Champion!



But the British Pie Awards were about far more than just the Supreme champion! With a bit under 900 pies rated by over 100 judges, there were 21 different classes (20 of them being pie classes and one non-pie class) to munch and rate in a busy few hours on Wednesday 8th March 2017! The venue may have changed – with St Mary’s Church unable to be used due to renovation of the church this year – but the outline was the same. Briefing, judging and collating the best pies on the Wednesday, followed by the crowning of class and overall supreme champion on Friday 10th March.



Some of the pie-lights this year included:

- The Chicken, Leek and Parmesan Pie from Ben’s Kitchen winning the Small Producer award – one we’ll have to try and pie rate soon!

- Our number one pie maker – Chris from MyPie London – both winning the class and having another in the top 3 in the Vegetarian pie class, to compliment the Steak, Venison and Minced Beef meat pies that he has in the top 10 (out of 600) in the Pierate Pie Rankings! We rated the vegetarian class winner – MyPie’s Sweet Potato and Goat’s Cheese – as Pierate Recommended with 5.93/7!

Nice Pie's Beef in Red Wine with Roasted Marrow Bone Pie

- The Pierate highly regarded Nice Pie (who we have rated countless Pierate Recommended Pies from) winning the Beef and any other flavour class for their Beef in Red Wine with Roasted Marrow Bone Pie – one we are going to be reviewing very soon! They also won the Chicken and vegetable/herb and the chicken and any other meat pie classes too! Nice job!!!

- Graham Aimson, head chef at Morecambe FC, once again doing well with a “Highly Commended” (aka top 3) pie in the sports pie (Steak and Ale) and dessert pie (Bramley Apple) classes. This follows their supreme champion wins in 2014 and 2011. Consistency!

- There were also a few mass-producer surprises, with Pukka Pies being “Highly Commended” in the Beef and Ale Class and Ginsters being “Highly Commended” in the non-pie class! Not sure what that says about the entrants in the non-pie class!!!

- And finally the British Pie Awards avoided having controversy for a second consecutive year by clarifying that the second and third placed pies in the Meat and Potato class – namely a “Peppered Steak Pie” and a “Beef Stew Pie” – did actually contain potato! Despite the names, they met the class requirement of having a content of potato (the levels of potato are not specified in the rules of the British Pie Awards).

The Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, from where the Supreme Champion came!

All in all, it was another hugely successful year for the British Pie Awards, and this time for all the right reasons! I particularly enjoyed chatting with TV chef Phil Vickery (who cooks on ITV's "This Morning" show), but also meeting and chatting to lots of friends of the blog, such as Nik Speller, #AwayDayPieGirl Katie Peal, Martin Tarbuck and Jonny Smith. This also included our com-pie-tition winners Anya, Charlie, Jessica and Katie - who won the chance to judge at the Awards and write for the sports pie blog called the "Sisterhood of the Travelling Pies" - plus we had a good chat with butchr.net creator Jamie, looking to grow a website he’s designed to bring butchers and meat industry professionals together.

The girls made a vlog of their experience at the British Pie Awards which you can watch on their website

With the nation’s pies judged for another year, you’d think that was it til next British Pie Week. But of course any of you who’ve read Pierate Pie Reviews before will know that British Pie Week and the British Pie Awards are just the start of things for us. We’ll be judging and rating pies all year round, so check back again soon!

RAS

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