A Chicken, Mushroom, English Mustard & Cream Pie made by Great North Pie Co. has taken home the title of Supreme Champion at this year’s world-renowned British Pie Awards. Beating 830 other pies to secure the much sought-after trophy and £1,000 cash prize, this Chicken Pie won the judges over with its exquisite appearance and perfect balance of taste and texture.
Huge competition –amazing pies
Neil Broomfield, pie maker from Great North Pie Co. commented: “The competition at this year’s British Pie Awards was huge and some of the pies were amazing. We’re so proud to win the award and be amongst some of the best pie makers in the country. We work hard to ensure that everything we produce is the best quality and that’s what we’re all about as a company. The team we have know this, and they put so much effort into keeping the standards we set. It is unbelievable that we have been named Supreme Champion.”
7th annual British Pie awards – 830 entries
The seventh annual British Pie Awards took place in Melton Mowbray on 22 and 23 April and this year 830 pies were entered from 131 professional bakers and butchers. 109 top pie perfectionists were involved in the judging process, including TV chef Andy Bates, leading food critic Charles Campion and renowned food writer Xanthe Clay.
Matthew O’Callaghan, Chairman of the British Pie Awards, added: “What a year for the Awards – we’ve seen a truly varied and plentiful plethora of pies. The standard of entrants this year was higher than ever before, and Neil and the Great North Pie Co team can be very proud of being crowned Champion.
“Each year we hold the Awards to encourage innovation in pies and I believe we have outdone ourselves this year. I’d like to give my sincere thanks to all involved, including our judges, sponsors, volunteers and of course, all our wonderful pie makers.”
Other accolades
As well as the Supreme Champion, many other deserving pies received accolades. Most notably, Boghall Butchers in West Lothian, Scotland walked away with seven certificates including a first place for its Chicken Pie as well as being awarded second place in the Steak & Kidney Pie Class, the Lamb Pie Class and Dessert Pie Class and third place in the Fish Pie Class and the Vegetarian Pie Class.
Leicester-based, 190 year old pie makers, Walker & Son performed exceptionally well, sweeping the board with first second and third places in the Savoury Pie Class and receiving accolades in the Chicken & Other Meat Pie Class and the Bride’s Pie Class.
‘Free From’ class
Classes at this year’s Awards were expanded to 20 in order to include a wider range of pies. One of the new classes for 2015 was the ‘Free From’ class, only allowing entries from pies free from gluten. Proving an exceptionally popular class, pie producers from across the country entered their gluten free pies, but the Free From Steak & Ale Pie produced by The Biddestone Arms pie came out on top.
For more information on the British Pie Awards click here and follow @BritishPies on Twitter.
Pictured top:Judge, TV chef Andy Bates with Neil Broomfield, pie maker from Great North Pie Co. and winner of the Supreme Champion class in the British Pie Awards
Full breakdown of winners
| Award | |
| Supreme Champion | Chicken, Mushroom, English Mustard & Cream Pie produced by Great North Pie Co |
| Best Overall Small Producer | Great North Pie Co |
| Class | Class winner | Second place | Third place |
| Class 1 – Melton Mowbray Pork Pie | Handcrafted Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, produced by Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe | Artisan 440g Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, produced by Walker & Son for M&S | Large Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, produced by Walker & Son for Co-op |
| Class 2 – Pork Pie | Family Pork Pie, produced by The Outdoor Pig Co | Traditional Pork Pie, produced by Robert Bowring Farmer & Butchers | Pork & Stilton Pie, produced by Hambleton Farm |
| Class 3 – Steak & Kidney Pie | Steak & Kidney Pie, produced by Rushfields Farm Shop | Steak & Kidney Round, produced by Boghall Butchers | Steak, Stout & Kidney Pie, produced by Madaboutpies.co.uk |
| Class 4 – Beef & Any Flavour Combination Pie | Minced Beef & Bovril Pie, produced by Great North Pie Co | Steak & Mushroom Pie, produced by The Real Pie Co | Peppercorn & Brandy Steak Pie produced by Nice Pie |
| Class 5 – Beef & Ale Pie | Steak & Ale Pie produced by Quality & Excellence Ltd | British Steak & Doombar Ale Pie produced by Dunkleys | Wild Beaver Pie produced by Brockleby’s |
| Class 6 – Meat & Potato Pie | Meat & Potato Pie produced by AF Huddlestons Butchers Limited | Meat & Potato Pie produced by Robert Bowring Farmer & Butchers | Corned Beef, Potato, White Onion & Cream Pie, made by Great North Pie Co |
| Class 7 – Lamb Pie | Lamb Shank Pie produced by Nice Pie | Lamb Hot Pot Round, produced by Boghall Butchers | Lamb & Mint Pie, produced by Kentish Mayde |
| Class 8 – Chicken Pie | Chicken Balmoral Round, produced by Boghall Butchers | The “Theo Walcott” Jerk Chicken Porter Pie produced by Piebury Corner | Free Range Chicken & Mushroom Pie produced by Dane Stream Farm Shop |
| Class 9 – Chicken & Vegetable / Herb Pie | Chicken, Mushroom, English Mustard & Cream Pie, produced by Great North Pie Co | Chicken & Mushroom Pie produced by Wessex Pantry | Chicken, Gammon & Leek Pie produced by Lovett Pies |
| Class 10 – Chicken & Other Meat Pie | Chicken & Ham Pie produced by Dunkleys | Guinea Foul, Chicken & White Wine produced by Dunkleys | Walker & Son Chicken, Ham & Leek Pie, made by Walker & Son |
| Class 11 – Speciality Meat Pie | Homemade Venison Pie produced by Truly Traceable Venison & Game Pies | Scottish Venison Pie produced by John Lawston | Game Pie produced by Mud Foods Ltd |
| Class 12 – Savoury Pie | Ploughmans Pork Pie, made by Walker & Son for M&S | Walker & Son Pork & Chicken Layer Pie 3lb, produced by Walker & Son | Corned Beef & Piccalilli Pie Walker & Son for M&S |
| Class 13 – Fish Pie | Smoked Eel, Apple, Potato Cream Horseradish & Garlic Pie, produced by Great North Pie Co | Fish Pie produced by The Biddestone Arms | Medley of Seafood Pie, produced by Boghall Butchers |
| Class 14 – Vegetarian Pie | SAAS Paneer Pie, produced by Great North Pie Co | Spinach, Ricotta and Mushroom Pie produced by Piglets Pantry | Vegetarian Haggis Pie, produced by Boghall Butchers |
| Class 15 – Pasty | Bramley Apple & Sultana Pasty produced by Boghall Butchers | Cumbrian Lamb Pasty produced by Burbush Penrith Ltd | Orchard Pasty produced by The Outdoor Pig Company Ltd |
| Class 16 – Dessert Pie including Bramley Apple Pie | Bramley Apple Pie, produced by Morecambe FC | Bramley Family Apple Pie, produced by Boghall Butchers | Apple Pie produced by AF Huddlestons Butchers Ltd |
| Class 17 – Pub Pie | Chef & Brewer Steak & Ale Pie produced by Dunkleys | Beef & Merlot Pie produced by Dunkleys | Gourmet Killie Pie produced by Brownings the Bakers |
| Class 18 – Football Pie | Chicken, Ham & Leek Pie, produced by Morecambe FC | Chicken Balti Pie produced by Center Plate | Steak & Ale Pie, produced by Kentish Mayde |
| Class 19 – Free From Pie | Free From Steak & Ale Pie produced by The Biddestone Arms | Clive’s Organic Gluten Free Aloo Gobi Pie produced by Buckfast Organic Bakery | Steak & Cornish Blue Pie, produced by The Little Gluten Free Pasty Pie |
| Class 20 – Speciality Class: The Bride’s Pie | Chicken, Champagne & Truffle Pie produced by Nice Pie | “Big Night” Wedding Drum Pie produced by Pieminister | Walker & Son 3 Tiered Corset Wedding Pie, made by Walker & Son |