All Eyes Are on the Pies - Newcastle Butcher Scoops National Award

Newcastle farm shop and butcher, The Blagdon Farm Shop, has scooped a prestigious national award for its Mince & Onion Pie at this year’s Smithfield Awards, announced at Butchers’ Hall in London last week.

One of ten artisan butchers from across the UK to be crowned top of their class, the Blagdon-based butcher, won the ‘Hot Eating Pie‘ category for its Mince & Onion Pie, in what is widely recognised as the meat trade’s most high profile and challenging product evaluation.

Organised by the Q Guild of Butchers, the awards which have run for more than 30 years, recognise and reward the UK’s finest craft butchery products including Traditional Pork Sausage, Best Burger, Home-Cured Bacon, BBQ Product and Best Butchers Steak.

Products are awarded a Bronze, Silver or Gold award by a panel of independent industry judges, with all Gold products in each category then pitched against each for the category champion Diamond Award. The coveted Diamond Award was presented to The Blagdon Farm Shop by Dr Carrie Ruxton, one of the UK’s most respected voices in nutrition, public health messaging and evidence-based food communication.

Blagdon Farm Shop’s Mince & Onion Pie achieved an exceptional 69 out of a possible 70 points and was commended on ‘making a simple product great with really flavoursome mince and a packed full pie’.

The Farm Shop also received a further three Gold Awards - the highest possible rating from the Guild - for its Old English Sausage, Bacon & Egg Pie and Sausage Roll and a Silver award for its Apple & Sage Stuffing.

Nicky Brown and Michelle Slater from The Blagdon Farm Shop said: “We’re blown away winning this award. There’s no secret recipe, this is just a pie made from the heart. It’s a traditional pie and sometimes those are the best!”

Gordon Wallace, Q Guild Manager said: “The standard of entries this year was incredibly high, which makes Blagdon Farm Shop’s achievement all the more impressive. To be named best in class and take home three additional Gold awards is a fantastic result. Their success is a real testament to the quality and consistency of their products and reflects the innovation and excellence driving the craft butchery sector forward.”

Blagdon has been championing locally sourced, high-quality food for nearly 24 years, with a strong focus on growing, rearing and preparing the very best produce. Known for its commitment to flavour and quality, the farm shop has built a loyal customer base who return time and again for its exceptional offering.

Located just seven miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne on the picturesque Blagdon Estate in Northumberland, the farm shop showcases a carefully curated selection of food. This includes dry-aged Belted Galloway and traditional breed beef, handmade pies and quiches, and a wide range of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Blagdon supports over 40 local producers, complemented by premium products sourced from across the UK and beyond. The shop is also home to an award-winning craft butchery and bakehouse, alongside an extensive grocery range featuring handmade desserts, local beers, biscuits, cakes and a variety of condiments.

To order your own award winning pie(s) visit their website at https://www.theblagdonfarmshop.co.uk