The Central pub in Half Moon Lane, Gateshead already has high reputation and its activities over Easter weekend reveal a pub show why. The pub, run by The Head Of Steam Ltd, is putting on a large Beer and Pie Festival, in association with the New Zealand Gourmet Pie Company of Corbridge.
40 different pies
From 7pm on Thursday 28 March and lasting till Easter Sunday, there will be no fewer than forty (!) different kinds of luscious savoury pies on sale, many as one-off creations by the pie company.
“The pie company thought we were joking when we asked them to produce 40 different pies” said Gav Sinclair, Manager of the Central; “but once they realised we were serious, they became really enthusiastic and creative – some of the pies sound fantastic – I can’t wait to taste the Venison & Sloe Gin pie!”
The pies are specially-made small versions of the company’s normal size of pies – so there may be some customers who work their way through many of them – even all?
40 best-selling beers
To make the Central even more compelling over the weekend, the pub will feature a ‘Top of the Hops’ beer festival of forty of the best selling beers it has had on sale. “It’s a weekend for gourmet real ale drinkers as well as gourmet pie eaters” said Sinclair.
Live bands
The attractions will be topped-off by a great set of live bands each day of the festival, playing in the Blue Room. This fits with the increasingly important profile of the Central as one of Gateshead major live music venues.
The pie selection
1. Moroccan Lamb
2. Minted lamb
3. Pork Stuffing and Apple Sauce
4. Venison & sloe gin pie
5. BBQ pork & rum
6. Whisky peppered steak.
7. Mixed game and cherry stout
8. Mixed game in a red wine sauce
9. Haggis Pie
10. Smoked Haddock
11. Sunday Dinner
12. All day breakfast
13. Creamy mushroom, bacon and cheese
14. Spicy Chorizo
15. Pizza Pie – Pepperoni, tomato, Mozzarella
16. Meatball and Bolognese sauce
17. Exotic Pie (TBC)
18. Steak & Stilton
19. Steak and Black pudding
20. Peppered steak
21. Steak & ale
22. Steak & Guinness
23. Steak & mushroom
24. Chilli beef and cheese
25. Mike’s chilli beef
26. Hot as hell chilli
27. Mince & cheese
28. Mince & onion
29. Thai chicken curry
30. Tikka chicken masala
31. Chicken & sage stuffing
32. Chicken & mushroom
33. Chicken in creamy sauce
34. Moroccan chicken
35. Chicken Balti
36. Chicken Satay
37. Spinach & goat’s cheese (v)
38. Pizza Pie Veg – Peppers, tomato, mozzarella (v)
39. Vegetarian Moroccan tangine (v)
40. Cheddar, Onion and Potato (v)