Champion chicken pies made in Gateshead will in the TV spotlight this weekend as a local pub savours its awards success for a fourth consecutive year.
The Woodmans Arms in Whickham is a regular winner at the British Pie Awards with its pastry-filled creations which prove a hit with both judges and its customers. And now the wider nation will get to see its menu of home-cooked comfort as this year's British Pie Awards are to feature on BBC 1’s Countryfile this Sunday, March 20.
Viewers will see the family-run gastropub win praise for its pies in what has been the busiest and most competitive year to date for the awards. Among the Woodmans' treats catching the judges' eye this time around were two newcomers, which were ranked in the top three chicken pies in the country.
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In all, it received six accolades to add to its culinary success. The team at The Woodmans Arms are celebrating winning one gold, four silvers and a bronze in the awards which received a record 976 entries.
Among them are the 'highly commended' awards, which go to the top three pies of each category nationwide, for its two new varieties - a Queen’s Coronation Chicken pie and a Chicken, Mushroom, Truffle and Tarragon pie. The Gold Award went to its Steak, Leek and Guinness concoction, making it the recipe’s second award in three years.
The Bronze was awarded to its Vegan Balti, part of this year's drive to improve the meat-free options at the pub. And diners will have the chance to try all the winners as the pies will be rotated on the pubs' specials menu throughout spring.
David Whitehead, owner of The Woodmans Arms and its sister restaurant The Jolly Fisherman in Craster, Northumberland, said: “We’re incredibly proud of what the team has achieved here. The Woodmans Arms is a small family-run pub in Whickham that’s competing on the big stage with the likes of Aldi, Marks & Spencers and other pie specialists all over the country.”
He added: “We’re ecstatic to have had our two new pies finish in the top three of their class during the busiest year for the British Pie Awards to date.” The 2022 awards were judged by 151 experts in Melton Mowbray, dubbed the 'UK’s Capital of Pies', given its pork pie fame.
There were 23 classes including pork pies; steak and ale; game; vegan; gluten-free; vegetarian and dessert. This time the overall winner was the 'Mooless' Pie, a gluten-free vegetarian variety made by Pieminister of Bristol.
The Jolly Fisherman Game Pie and Fish Pie won bronzes too while also among the British Pie Awards successes was The Mill House in Durham which won highly commended in both the 'hot eating savoury' category for its Beef, Guinness and Leek and in the 'pub pie' section for a Chicken Balti.
Currently featured on The Woodman's Arms' mains menu is its home-made Steak, Leek and Guinness pie, which comes served with chips or mash, mushy peas and gravy for £15.95, as well as a Steak and Morden Blue pie which won gold last year, which is available for the same price.
For more information about what's on offer at The Woodman's Arms or to book a table see here . Countryfile can be seen on BBC1 this Sunday, March 20 at 7pm.
