A SUSSEX farm shop has won a national award for their steak and kidney pies.
Rushfields Farm Shop, in Poynings, scooped the gold award in the steak and kidney class of the British Pie Awards this week.
Pie makers Alison Ashdown and Colin Langridge have been baking pies for the family-run shop for several years and entered a number of their tasty creations into the awards on Monday.
Three other Sussex producers also received prizes.
Piglet’s Pantry, in Worthing, who provide Brighton and Hove Albion with their pies at the American Express Community Stadium, walked away with a silver award for their creations.
The Real Pie Company, from Crawley, also scooped a silver award. Mud Foods, from Midhurst, went away with a runner’s up prize.
Colin’s wife Pam Langridge, 54, who works in the shop, said: “We had a phone call in the evening on Wednesday telling us we had been shortlisted, so on Thursday we drove up to Melton Mowbray for the competition.
“We’ve entered the competition before and got bronze and silver awards last year, but we were shocked to get the gold prize.”
The competition, which has 20 categories, attracted more than 800 entries from around the UK, giving the 109 judges plenty to eat.
Mrs Langridge said: “We did put some other pies in but until tomorrow we won’t know if we got any other awards.
“But the feeling when we heard was worth the long drive to Leicestershire and back.”
The shop, opened in 2011 as part of Rushfields Plant Centre, also won Best Food Shop in January’s Sussex Food and Drink Awards.
Mrs Langridge added: “We have our own butchers and the meat comes from the farm across the road. As my husband says, if you start with good meat then you’ll make a good pie.”
Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the British Pie Awards, said: “What a year for the Awards – we’ve seen a truly varied and plentiful plethora of pies.
“The standard of entrants this year was higher than ever before, and all the winners should be very proud of their awards.”
Factfile
This year’s competition is the 7th annual British Pie Awards, held in Melton Mowbray.
It is hosted by the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association with an aim to celebrate the heritage of the great British pie and support independent producers.
The competition’s rules state that all pies must be entirely encased in pastry – no pastry lattices or potato toppings allowed.
The 20 categories include sweet pies, vegetarian pies, all types of meat and gluten free pies. Since 2009, more than 4,500 pies from nearly 700 entrants have been judged.
OTHER WINNERS
Melton Mowbray Pork Pie (judged cold)
Winner: Handcrafted Melton Mowbray Pork Pie by Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe
Speciality Meat Pie (judged hot)
Winner: Homemade Venison Pie by Truly Traceable Venison & Game Pies
Pasty (judged cold)
Winner: Bramley Apple & Sultana Pasty by Boghall Butchers
Speciality Class: The Bride’s Pie (judged cold)
Winner: Chicken, Champagne & Truffle Pie by Nice Pie
Football Pie (judged hot)
Winner: Chicken, Ham & Leek Pie by Morecambe FC
Fish Pie (judged hot)
Winner: Smoked Eel, Apple, Potato Cream Horseradish & Garlic Pie by Great North Pie Co.
Savoury Pie (judged cold)
Winner: Ploughmans Pork Pie by Walker & Son for M&S
Vegetarian Pie (judged hot)
Winner: Saag Paneer Pie by Great North Pie Co.
Dessert Pie including Bramley Apple Pie (judged cold)
Winner: Bramley Apple Pie by Morecambe FC
Chicken Pie (judged hot)
Winner: Chicken Balmoral Round by Boghall Butchers
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