Potts Pies have beaten nearly all the opposition in one man’s solo survey of football ground pies, with Morecambe’s half time fare proving a better meal than anything Manchester United or Chelsea could serve up.
22-year-old author Tom Dickinson, from Harpenden, Hertfordshire, has travelled the country sampling pies at 91 of the 92 football league grounds, and feels Potts Pies were by far the best on offer.
His findings for a new book, 92 Pies, the result of a year’s pie research, seemed to be borne out when he appeared on BBC Breakfast this morning, as presenters Kate Silverton, Bill Turnbull and Chris Hollins all tucked hungrily into the provided samples.
Ian has spent some £3000 on his quest for the perfect pie, sometimes attending six matches a week, with only Bolton Wanderers’ fare yet to be sampled – the team he supports. Tom told BBC Breakfast he thought it only fitting he leave his team’s food until last as he works to complete his book – and will be doing that this Saturday at the Reebok Stadium.
The BBC Breakfast team clearly enjoyed their Potts Pie feast. While Kate Silverton admitted it might seem a little early to be tucking into pies she pointed out she had actually been up for hours and proved unable to resist the Morecambe offering.
Potts Pies have long supplied their tasty treats to famished football fans at Morecambe FC as well as from their shops in Lancaster and Morecambe. They’ve also perfected a vegetarian alternative to their more famous meat dish and after careful testing we can confirm that the cheese onion and broccoli, cheese onion and potato and butter pies are delicious.
Tom argues lower league clubs serve up the better pies. “‘They definitely have much better pies and you also meet much more interesting people,’ he told Metro this week. His girlfriend, who doesn’t enjoy football, has also been supportive of his travels – and is still with him for one good reason.
“Fortunately I’ve not put on that much weight,” he said.
So if Tom’s favourite pie so far is at Christie Park, what’s the worst? “That’s got to be Walsall,’ he feels. “It didn’t have much heat or meat in the middle.”
BBC newscasters are legendary for their love of pies. Earlier this month, the Radio 4 Today programme tucked into its own “breakfast pie” after the first ever British Pie Competition.
In January, BBC News noted that tough times may lie ahead for the food industry in 2009, but pie-makers reckoned they would ride out the recession. Holland’s Pies, based in Baxenden, Lancashire, predicted further growth as hard-up families turn to “staple favourites”.
“In the last recession the pie business boomed because a proper pie or pudding is substantial, familiar and nutritious,” said Managing Director Neil Court-Johnston, who claimed the pie industry had “boomed” during the last recession.
“Better still, a pie or pudding meal provides fantastic value for money.”
Potts Pies Shops – Courtesy of Google Maps
• Pott’s Pies – Morecambe
1 Anderton Street, Morecambe Tel: 01524 402481
• Potts Pies – Bolton-le-Sands
Main Rd, Bolton-le-Sands Tel: 01524 822255
• Pott’s Pies – Bowerham
56 Bowerham Road, Lancaster. Tel: 01524 65834
More News Stories
• Metro: Fottball fan eats all the pies
• The Bolton News: Bolton’s fan’s taste of 92 football grounds