Completing the UK Pie Map: Celebrating regional flavours
There's something special about a good pie. Whether it's a flaky buttery pastry or a rich savoury filling, pies have been a cornerstone of British cuisine for centuries. And while some regions have long been known for their iconic creations like Melton Mowbray Pork Pies, Cornish Pasties or Bedfordshire Clangers, other areas have remained underrepresented.
Until now.
To celebrate British Pie Week, we set out on a mission to complete the UK pie map and fill in the gaps, while showcasing regional flavours that bring together the best of British produce in a new exciting way.
Filling in the blanks: How the UK Pie Map came to life
Despite Britain's rich pie heritage, many parts of the country lacked a signature pie. So, to try and fix this, we invited people from across the UK to submit their ideas for regional pies using local ingredients. The response was overwhelming – with hundreds of suggestions pouring in and each reflecting the unique culinary traditions of their area.
These submissions were carefully reviewed and developed into a collection of new filling suggestions based on the regions of where the submissions were coming from. This subsequently filled in many of the gaps – enabling us to ‘complete’ the UK pie map, with most regions and areas now being covered.
From these dozens of ‘new’ pies, we selected a top five of regional favourites, before culminating in a live tasting event at Divertimenti Cookery School in London, which saw us put these tastes to the test.
Bringing together food lovers and industry experts, including MasterChef 2020 winner Thomas Frake and cookery author, Jo Pratt, we looked to determine the best of Britain's "new" regional pies.
The five finalists
The five pies that stood out, each represented the distinct tastes of their regions:
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The Sussex Lob-star Pie – A luxurious shellfish creation with locally caught lobster and fresh broccoli in a creamy sauce.
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The Yorkshire Wensleydale & Leek Pie – A comforting combination of Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese and sweet leeks, wrapped in golden pastry.
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The Ayrshire Haggis & Neeps Pie – A Scottish classic with rich haggis, mashed neeps and a peppery whisky-infused gravy.
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The Pembrokeshire Lamb & Laverbread Pie – A celebration of Welsh flavours, blending tender lamb with the umami richness of laverbread.
- The Armagh Pork, Bramley Apple & Irish Whiskey Pie – A nod to Northern Ireland, featuring locally sourced pork, tangy Bramley apples and a splash of Irish whiskey.
Each pie was prepared using our expertly designed kitchen tools, making the cooking process seamless and enjoyable. Guests at the tasting event had the chance to sample all five and vote for their favourite.
And the winner...
The Pembrokeshire Lamb & Laverbread Pie claimed the top spot with its rich flavour and authentic taste of Wales. It was praised for its balance of tender lamb and the distinctive depth of laverbread, a traditional Welsh seaweed paste.
Thomas Frake described it as "a fitting testament to the tastes of the region—exceptional Welsh lamb paired with local laverbread for a genuinely delicious pie." Jo Pratt added, "It was a close contest, but the Pembrokeshire Pie just edged ahead with its unique well-balanced flavours."
Explore the Full UK Pie Map
The completed UK pie map can now be explored below – with traditional pies incorporated as part of it.
And whilst we’ve tried to ensure we’ve covered the bulk of the UK, if you think your region is missing a signature pie, then we want to hear from you. Submit your ideas and help continue the tradition of celebrating Britain's rich culinary heritage – and we’ll add you to the map!
Make your own regional pie & win with us
Whilst we made our top five finalists based on the appeal of the ingredient combinations, we haven’t put all of the others to the taste test as of yet – so we're inviting food lovers to try making these new regional pies at home.
Whether you recreate the Pembrokeshire Pie or try your hand at another contender, share your creation on Instagram using #UKPieMap and tag @zylissofficial.
To view the UK pie map with a mix of already established pies and pies picked by us, click here>
The top five regional pie recipes, click here to read now>
All recipes were created by Jo Pratt and can be found on her website here>
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