Entries are now open for the third annual British Pie Awards, which will take place at St Mary’s Church in Melton Mowbray, on Wednesday 8 June.

Organised and hosted by the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, the Awards saw over 700 entries from 125 pie makers from across Great Britain last year, with organisers expecting an even larger number this year.

The pies, which need to be commercially available to enter, will be judged by a host of pie experts, food writers and celebrity bakers and chefs.

The categories include hot and cold eating pies, both sweet and savoury, with a champion and reserve champion title awarded in each class. The champions from each category will compete for the title of supreme champion.

The supreme champion will win a shield and prize money of £1,000. The champion of each class will win £50.

Paul Mooney, production manager and associate director of previous winner Chatwin’s, with 26 bakery shops, commented: “Winning the Award for our Steak Pasty proved to be a great springboard for the product. We received great coverage in our local press and that has helped the product to become one of our best sellers.”

Chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association, Matthew O’Callaghan, said: These Awards are the crème de la crème of the Pie industry regardless of the size, and for that reason we have introduced the Special Award category this year aimed at small producers, to ensure we have a good representation of the best produce from across the country.”

For more information visit www.britishpieawards.co.uk. To request a copy of the 2011 entry form, please contact Sarah Clothier on 0116 2344523 or email sarah.clothier@mmppa.co.uk.

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