Where to enjoy National Pie Week in Leigh and Southend

March 3, 2020 by Lisa Shelley

It's British Pie week! Running from the 2nd to the 8th March, this week celebrates the good old pie and mash; a firm British favourite whether you prefer it with gravy or liquor, with chips and beans or just on its own.  

If you originate from London, then I am guessing you may well prefer liquor (parsley sauce) to complement your pie. Although pie shops had been around in London for some time, the first pie and mash hostelries opened their doors in the mid 1800's and soon became a firm favourite with working class families. Some may think that eating a pie with parsley sauce and a splash of chilli infused vinegar is quite bizarre but the combination of flavours works very well, so much so that the humble dish of pie and mash is now making a big comeback.

Some may think that a beef, chicken or even vegetable pie are not a healthy option but meat is a great source of vitamins and minerals, parsley sauce is a powerful disease fighting plant which contains Vitamins A, C, K, Folate and Potassium and the modest potato is now hailed as the new super food.

Of course we cannot forget the fruit pie, whether it be memories of school dinners with custard, Sunday afternoon dessert with lashings of cream or grandma’s apple and blackberry pie with blackberries fresh from the hedgerow.

The classic British Pie just gets better and better with artisan producers using the finest ingredients from British farms.

We hope you like our list of winning pie places - bon appetite!

The Best Traditional Pie with all the trimmings

The Cherry Tree at Stambridge: A different pie per day for British Pie Week, from savoury to a beautiful dessert pie cooked in the oven

The Royal Hotel Southend: The Royal Pie of the week (ask a member of staff) with creamy mash and seasonal greens - £15

The Estuary: Handmade pies including steak, ale and mushroom pie, chicken, ham and leek pie and fish pie - from £14.95

Toulouse Southend Sea Front: Enjoy a range of pies on Pie and Mash Thursday from lamb, chickpea to chorizo to a traditional steak and ale - £14.50

Pipe of Port: A range of pies including Free Range Chicken & Chestnut - £13

The Regatta Restaurant Leigh: Steak and ale pie with a flaky pastry top - £15.50


Best for Pie, Mash and Liquor

Robins Pie and Mash Southend: A family-owned business producing traditional Pie & Mash with their famous liquor for 5 generations. Their authentic recipe has made them well known and trusted for their quality. 

Sansy’s Pie and Mash Lakeside: Using a recipe that is still being used by the same family for over 120 years, with the finest ingredients and each pie being made by hand, this makes Sainsy’s pie and mash a cut above the rest.

Best Take Home Pies

Gourmet Deli: Award-winning pies, served hot or cold. Ask for their daily selection - £3.95 takeaway £4.95 eat in

Cook: A whole range of pies, including the most recent award-winners from British Pie Awards in 2019 for the Spring Chicken & Asparagus and the Chicken & Portobello Mushroom - from £4 - £24