Morecambe Football Club has swept the board at the British Pie Awards. The Npower League Two team won the Supreme Champion award for its chicken, leek and ham pie at the event, which took place in Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire – the home of the pork pie.

The club, which makes its own pies, beat off competition from bakers and butchers across the UK. It also scooped accolades for the best football pie and the best pie made by a small producer.

Meanwhile, Crantock Bakery has been crowned maker of the UK’s best Cornish pasty, becoming the first to win the award following the granting of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) status to the Cornish Pasty earlier this year.

PGI gave the Cornish Pasty the same protection afforded to the Champagne region of France for its wines, meaning that they can only be produced in Cornwall according to a set definition.

Nick Ringer, managing director of Crantock Bakery, a past winner of Bakery Food Manufacturer of the Year at the Baking Industry Awards, organised by British Baker, said: “We are all delighted to have won this award. It means we really were up against the best authentic pasties made in Cornwall. The fact that ours won shows we genuinely do make the best Cornish pasties in the UK.”

The British Pie Awards was judged by food industry figures including food writers, Xanthe Clay and Charles Campion, celebrity chef and food campaigner, Rachel Green, author Tamasin Day-Lewis and Georgi Gyton, senior reporter on British Baker.

The event – which was held at the historic St Mary’s Church in the market town – saw more than 600 products entered and was also featured on the ITV morning show Daybreak. The competition, now in its third year, saw an increase in entrants from small producers.


Winners 2011
Supreme Champion:
Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie produced by Graham Aimson, Morecambe Football Club in Morecambe, Lancashire

Class 1: Melton Mowbray Pork Pie
Champion: Melton Mowbray Pork Pie produced by Mrs Kings Pies in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire

Class 2: Pork Pie
Champion: Sainsbury’s All Pork Gala produced by Walkers Charnwood Bakery in Leicester, Leicestershire

Class 3: Steak and Kidney Pie
Champion: Steak & Kidney Pie produced by Turners Catering Pies in Bognor Regis, West Sussex

Class 4: Savoury Pie - Hot
Champion: Chicken, Leek and Laver Bread Pie produced by Leonardo’s Delicatessen Ltd in Ruthin, Denbighshire

Class 5: Savoury Pie - Cold
Champion: Chicken & Ham Pie produced by Chunk of Devon in Ottery St Mary, Devon

Class 6: Fish Pie
Champion: Smoked Eel, Leeks and Horseradish Pie produced by The Great North Pie Company in Stockport, Cheshire

Class 7: Vegetarian Pie
Champion: Cheese, Leek and Apple Pie produced by The Great North Pie Company in Stockport, Cheshire

Class 8: Cornish Pasty
Champion: Cornish Pasty produced by Crantock Bakery in Newquay, Cornwall

Class 9: Other Pasty
Champion: Smokey Bacon & Leek Pasty produced by Proper Cornish Ltd in Bodmin, Cornwall

Class 10: British Apple Pie
Champion: British Apple Pie produced by Bouverie Lodge Quality Foods in Nether Broughton, Leicestershire

Class 11: Other Dessert Pie
Champion: Tesco Cherry Pie produced by Kensey Foods in Launceston, Cornwall

Class 12: Football Pie
Champion: Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie produced by Graham Aimson Morecambe Football Club in Morecambe, Lancashire

Special Award to recognise the best small producer:
Champion: Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie produced by Graham Aimson Morecambe Football Club in Morecambe, Lancashire

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