Brits love a good pie. So much, in fact, that some of our favourite pastry packages, like cornish pasties and melton mowbray pork pies have even managed to get special protected status.
And ICYMI, British Pie Week happened last week, making it the perfect time of year for 147 food experts to test pies across the nation and decide on the very best. That’s right, the results of the British Pie Awards 2024 are in.
So, where should you go for the most delicious pie in the land? County Durham, that’s where. Middleton-in-Teesdale Fish and Chip Shop in Barnard Castle was awarded the coveted title of Supreme Champion at this year’s British Pie Awards. The shop’s minted wensleydale lamb and potato pie beat 35 other innovative bakes to be crowned the night’s ‘pie of pies’.
Judges said the pie was ‘a come and eat me pie’, that the ‘pastry is a poem, perfectly seasoned and wonderfully flakey’ and that the ‘filling is very well balanced, meat is beautifully tender and the mint is coming through well’.
The awards chose winners in 24 different classes. In the vegan category, a butternut chilli and vegan cheese pie from Turner’s Pies in Chichester came out on top, while in the brand new fusion category, Pieminister’s harissa and chicken pie was the victor.
Here’s the full list of winners in each class:
- Supreme Champion ‘Pie of Pies’: Minted Wensleydale Lamb & Potato by Middleton-In-Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop, Barnard Castle, Durham
- Best Melton Mowbray Pork Pie: Tesco Melton Mowbray Pork Pie by Samworths Savoury Pastry, Leicester
- Best Pork Pie: Pork Pie by AE.Chambers Ltd, Nottingham
- Best Cold Eating Savoury Pie: Chicken and Ham Pie by Robinsons of Stilton Ltd, Peterborough
- Best Pasty: Chicken Bhaji Pasty by Proper Cornish Ltd, Cornwall
- Best Dessert Pie: Turner's Dutch Apple Pie by Turner’s Pies Ltd, Chichester
- Best Steak & Kidney Pie: Measures Traditional Steak & Kidney Pie by Measures Butchers, Cambridgeshire
- Best Beef Pie: Pure South Beef & Peppercorn Sauce Pie by Fuud Ltd, Leigh-On-Sea, Essex
- Best Beef & Alcohol Pie: Martins Wagyu Beef & Ale Pie by Martins, Shropshire
- Best Beef & Cheese Pie: The Crown Signature Steak & Stilton Pie by Stine Hospitality Ltd, Leicestershire
- Best Beef & Vegetable Pie: Ox Cheek & Shin of Beef w/ Root Vegetables by Mēs Pies And Wine, Brent, London
- Best Meat & Potato Pie: Turner's Steak & Potato Pie by Turner’s Pies Ltd, Chichester
- Best Lamb Pie: Minted Wensleydale Lamb & Potato by Middleton-In-Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop, Barnard
Castle, Durham - Best Chicken, Chicken & Vegetable/Herb Pie: Chicken & Mushroom Pie by The Outdoor Pig Company, Alcester, Warwickshire
- Best Chicken with Other Meat Pie: Chicken Leek and Ham Hock Pie by Bowring Butchers, Nottingham
- Best Game & Speciality Meat Pie: Pheasant, Venison, Bacon, Black Pudding & Quail Egg Pie by The Bell Hotel & Pie Shop, Buckinghamshire
- Best Hot-Eating Savoury Pie: The Bell's Christmas Pie by The Bell Hotel & Pie Shop, Buckinghamshire
- Best Fish Pie: WeeCOOK Fishwife Pie by WeeCOOK, Carnoustie in Angus, Scotland
- Best Vegetarian Pie: The Bell's Sweet Potato, Spinach and Coconut Curry Pie by The Bell Hotel & Pie Shop, Buckinghamshire
- Best Vegan Pie: Butternut Chilli & Vegan Cheese Pie by Turner’s Pies Ltd, Chichester
- Best Pub Pie: The Two Brewers Steak & Stilton Pie by Paul's Proper British Pies, Buckinghamshire
- Best Sports Pie: Cheeky Beef & Fondant Potato by Paul's Proper British Pies, Buckinghamshire
- Best Fish & Chip Shop Pie: Cheesy Potato & Onion Pie by The Cods Scallops, Nottingham
- Best Free From Pie: Italian Job (Melanzane Pie) by Kavanaghs, Oakham, Rutland
- Best Fusion Pie: Pieminister Harissa Chicken Pie by Pieminister, Bristol
RECOMMENDED: One London pie shop triumphed at the British Pie Awards 2024.
Britain’s best baked goods
The UK is a nation of dough, batter, sponge and buttery biscuit base fiends. And here at Time Out, we’ve got all the delicious content you’ll ever need. Read how Cornish pasty shops went to war with Greggs, where the hell hot desserts have gone and how baked good became the new streetwear. Plus these are all the best pie and mash shops in London and Britain’s best bakeries.
Did you see that the UK is one of the world’s best countries, according to half a million travellers?
Plus: What is the 100 day cough? UK outbreak explained, including symptoms.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out UK newsletter for the latest UK news and the best stuff happening across the country.