A FAMILY-RUN pie makers has triumphed in national awards.

Turner’s Pies, which has shops in Bognor, Chichester and Rustington, was crowned supreme champions at the12th British Pie Awards, as the company’s steak and Stilton pie was named the Best British Pie of 2020.

The world-renowned awards take place every year in Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, home of the pork pie and recognised as the “rural capital of food”.

This year the awards saw close to 900 pies entered by 160 professional bakers, butchers and chefs from around the country.

Peter Turner, director of Turner’s Pies, said he and his family are delighted as they celebrated their latest success.

He said: “We’ve won it once before in 2018 and it was as much of a surprise then as it is now.

“We are the first pie company to win it twice and no one saw it coming.

“Our customers are over the moon that their pie shop has won as well.”

Peter, who runs Turner’s Pies with his brothers Philip and Joseph, said the business stems from his grandmother Eva’s recipes which were passed down through the generations.

He said: “It all started in 1933 when our grandmother started making pies at the Commercial Hotel in Bognor.

“Our dad Pip learned the trade through her and he was the one to open our first dedicated pie shop in Bognor.

“Dad is retired now but he’s semi-retired really – he’s always around to help us out.”

Peter’s brother Joseph attended the awards with their father Pip to see their rump steak and Stilton pie replace last year’s curried sweet potato and butternut squash vegan pie as champion.

Speaking at the awards, chief judge Colin Woodhead commended the pie for its attractive appearance with neat crimping on the edge and golden bake.

He said: “The pastry had an even thickness, with a crunchy rich texture.

“The filling was well balanced between meat and cheese which gave a subtle taste and the meat, though tender, still having ‘bite’.

“Overall a cracking pie.”

British Pie Awards organiser Dr Matthew O’Callaghan said: “Turner’s of Sussex certainly know how to make an excellent pie.

“They won Supreme Champion in 2018 with their steak and ale pie and now they’ve done it again, but this time with Stilton cheese.

“Cheese in pies was a winning formula this year, appearing in five winning classes.

“Besides winning the Supreme Champion, or ‘Pie of Pies’ title, Turner’s also won three highly commended awards, three golds, four silvers and two bronzes.

“With their record, they are indisputably Britain’s Best Pie Maker.”

Peter believes Turner’s Pies are special because they never compromise on quality.

He said: “The pies are good value with high quality ingredients, and we stick to good old fashioned recipes which are simple, traditional and wholesome.

“It’s our passion and we put everything into creating a good pie.”

He said his grandmother Eva, who lived until she was 104, would be very proud to know they had won the award for the second time.

Peter said: “She lived to see us win some awards – most of our meat pies range have won one award or another.

“It’s been really cool to win this award, as after we won it the first time in 2018 it enabled us to to launch our Pies by Post service, so we could sell further afield.

“It’s the same range of award winning pies, freshly baked daily and sent nationwide by overnight courier.

“It works well and has been really popular.”

Turner’s Pies, which also sells scotch eggs, sausage rolls and sweet pies, offers a lunch menu with a hot pie and mushy peas and gravy to take away.

Peter said customers return to Turner’s because their pies provide a convenient but wholesome takeaway, as opposed to a supermarket ready-meal.

He said: “That’s what makes us appealing.

“Most people come in to take a pie home to their families.

“It’s an easy meal, but it’s home-baked and wholesome.

“Over the years it has been our returning customers who have provided the continued support that has enabled us to focus on producing an affordable premium product that only gets better.

“We have to thank our small but fantastic team of pie people in our kitchen and shops who understand our ethics of quality and tradition.

“Everyone is thrilled.”