This week marks British Pie Week, and preparations are underway for the ninth annual British Pie Awards, which is being held at Melton Mowbray – the rural food capital.

PIE BRITAIN IMAGE 3 British Pie Award event organiser Stephen Hallam and head judge Ian Nelson inspect some of the entries to this year’s Awards. Contact philippa.snell@wildwestcomms.co .uk

British Pie Award event organiser Stephen Hallam and head judge Ian Nelson inspect some of the entries to this year’s British Pie Awards.

Organisers say the competition is involving nearly 900 pies, including 200 beef or steak pies, 90 pork pies, 137 chicken pies and 46 pastries, which will all be judged in various categories.

Some of the classes in which the pies will be judged include: Melton Mowbray Pork Pie, Pork Pie, Steak and Kidney Pie, Beef and Any Flavour Combination Pie, Beef and Ale Pie, Beef and Cheese Pie, Meat and Potato Pie, Lamb Pie, Speciality Meat and Game Pie, Savoury Pie, and Pasty, to name a few.

The products will be individually tasted and judged by more than 100 judges.

The organising team has stated that The British Pie Awards received a record number of entries from a total of 154 producers, butchers and chefs from across the country.

The competition is supported by well-known chefs and food critics, including Charles Campion who will be at the awards ceremony announcing the winners. TV chef Phil Vickery will also make an appearance at the ceremony.

The British Pie Awards have been running since 2009 and aim to celebrate British Pies in all their varieties.

The 21 class winners and the Supreme Champion of the awards will be announced on 10th March at the award ceremony in Melton Mowbray.

This story was originally published on a previous version of the Meat Management website and so there may be some missing images and formatting issues.