Pie eyed chefs

In conjunction with British Pie Week, Wadworth brewery is running a competition for its managed houses to create a new pie recipe.

Each resident chef has created dishes, which will form part of the pub's menu during the first two weeks of March, with the top three going through to a final round cook off at the end of the month.

Entrants have exceeded expectations and entries were up 10% from Wadworth's 43 managed houses. All of the participating pubs will be judged during a series of mystery visits taking place throughout the promotion.

Some of the more interesting dishes created so far include "Chorizo and Chuck Steak Pie" from the Trumpet Inn at Ledbury, Herts, and "Raised Chicken, Sausage meat and Lemon and Thyme Pie", from the Millstone in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Scott Ferguson, food development manager at Wadworth is delighted by the uptake so far received: "Wadworth are continually looking at ways to encourage their estate of both managed and tenanted houses to proactively promote themselves and we are delighted to see so many of them take up the challenge. Not only does this competition help to support British Pie Week activities, it also gives locals a reason to pay a pub a visit and will hopefully drive footfall."

Alongside the pie challenge, Wadworth is also running a dessert challenge, based on the same criteria, where entries have so far included "Almond, Amaretto and Marzipan Bread & Butter Pudding" from the George Inn at Norton St Phillip, near Bath and "Chocolate Cola Cake" from the Barge Inn at Seend.

British Pie Week kicks off from 2-4 March.

Words: Maria Bracken

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