Nick Cooper was honoured to be invited to be a judge for the national British Pie Awards last year and is delighted to be asked to return this year. In 2021 he was part of the judging team for the lamb pie category. Not only did he get to taste some amazing flavours, he learnt the regime required to judge the optimum pie.

The British Pie Awards celebrate the craft and skill of British pie makers, with the stipulation that all pies have to be commercially sold at the time of the awards, or for a year thereafter. Their definition of a pie is “A pie is deemed to be a filling wholly encased in pastry and baked”.

There are 23 different categories which means there is a pie for everyone. With hot and cold, sweet and savoury, meat, fish, vegetarian, vegan, and free-from categories for the makers to choose from, it allows them to be very inventive with their creations.

The competition is fiercely contested as it is a tremendous honour to win an award and be able to display the coveted winners’ and placed finalists labels on the packaging of the winning pie type for retail sale, as well as being showcased in national and regional press.

Our now connoisseur taster (no pie on Nick’s plate is safe from inspection!) is looking forward to joining his fellow judges and sampling the delectable delights on offer this year.

By HSSP Architects