The Garrison wins Pork Pie Off

Head chef Tom Langdon’s variety won first place in both the professional judges’ and the customers’ votes. He created a traditional looking pork pie with pork shoulder, smoked streaky bacon and pork belly with seasoning including nutmeg and cumin.

London department store Selfridges said ahead of the event that it would be interested in considering taking on the winning pork pie in its deli section. The British Larder in Bromeswell, Suffolk, which won the Scotch Egg Challenge 2013 held at Young's the Ship in Wandsworth, London, now has its scotch egg stocked by the retail giant among several other products.

Runners up​

Second runner up was Peter Weeden of Newman Street Tavern, west London, with a hot water crust pork pie made with Mary Holbrook’s British lop pork and red wine jelly while Henry Harris of Racine in Knightsbridge, west London came third with a traditionally spiced hand chopped pork pork pie with a pig’s ear running through the middle.

Other competitors included Dominic Chapman of the Royal Oak, Paley Street, Berkshire and Paul Merrett of the Victoria, East Sheen, London.

The competition was judged by 50 customers and three professional judges: the Mail on Sunday’s Tom Parker-Bowles, Metro’s Joe Warwick and Christine Hayes, editor of Olive magazine. Tickets were sold at £10 each in aid of charity Action Against Hunger.

Love of pies​

Tom Parker Bowles, who was attracted to the competition by his "love of pubs and love of pies", said:"Judging by last night’s splendid offering, the great British pork pie is in rude health." He is a local to the area.

Owner of Princess Victoria Nigel Sutcliffe said: "The event was about getting the community together to celebrate British Pie week, our love of great tasting pies and local craft beers. The fact that we could raise money for such a great charity makes it all the better."