British Pie Awards 2017 Ready for New Competitors

Pie perfectionists from across the UK are invited to enter the 2017 British Pie Awards. The Awards are to be held on March 8, in Leicestershire (Melton Mowbray), UK.

The 2016 awards saw 816 pies entered from 132 professional bakers, butchers and chefs and judged by over 100 top pie aficionados.

This year, for the first time, pie makers can apply online by filling out an application form on the British Pie Awards (BPA) website. There are only a few simple rules that must be adhered to: all pies are to be totally encased in pastry, with a closed top and must fit into one of the 21 pre-assigned classes. All entries, except the annual themed class, must be commercially available in the UK.

Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, said: “We’re so looking forward to other awards celebrating the craftsmanship, creativity and innovation of Great British pie makers. Each year we’re impressed by the increasing number of entries, all of which are of a superb caliber– we can’t wait to taste this year’s offerings.

Supreme Champion of the 2016 British Pie Awards, John Nicholl of Huddleston’s Butchers, said: “We were absolutely thrilled that our Beef Skirt and Vegetable Pastie was named the best pie in Britain – particularly as we were shortlisted amongst so many other talented pie makers in the most prestigious pie competition in the UK.

Each year the awards have a themed class that encourages pie makers to get creative with their baking. For the 2017 awards, in celebration of the magnificent traditional pies associated with different regions across Britain, bakers, butchers and chefs are invited to create a Regional Pie.