2010 BRITISH PIE AWARDS

The Bathgate-based businessman, who has twice won the World Scotch Pie Championship, beat a record field to take the fish pie category and the vegetarian division at the British Pie Championships.

In all four SFMTA members won major prizes. Member Mark Duckworth of Dales Butchers in Kirkby Longsdale won the Radio Pie for Indigo Radio with his Pork and Damson Pie.

Other members also claimed two runners-up spots. Stuarts of Buckhaven in the Best British Apple PIe Award, and in the Football Pie category Perthshire-based Simon Howie Butchers of Dunning for the Steak and Gravy Pie that they supply to Celtic Football Club.

Paul and Christine Boyle celebrated the award at Melton Mowbray

Boyle, 52, of Boghall Butchers, Boghall, Bathgate, won the fish pie crown last year with the same pie, a cod and white wine creation. Last year he had lattice pastry on top on his fish pie but this time he had a lid to completely comply with the contest's rules.

That was the only alteration to the recipe for the pie he sells three times a week in his busy shop in the middle of a council housing estate.

His vegetarian haggis, potato and turnip pie is hugely popular and is on sale every day.

Boyle, a former chef, said: “The vegi pie is a big seller over a big cross section of customers, from workmen in boiler suits to housewives.

“The cod and white wine pie is also a good seller, but not as good as the vegi one. We're absolutely delighted with the double win.

“Last year we upped our turnover and drew a lot of new customers to the shop with our success in the British Championships. We're expecting to do the same this time.”

He added: “It's great to keep winning awards. I've won the World Scotch Pie Championship twice, once in 2009 and also in 2005, and I've also won three British titles in two years.

“Winning keeps the name of the shop in the headlines and brings new customers from all over. However, we're also proud to serve our regular customers who have helped us grow the business to a position where we now have nine staff.”

Over 20 top Scots piemen entered the British Pie Championships including three World Scotch Pie champions – the current holder, Murdoch Brothers from Forres, plus Stuart's of Buckhaven and Boghall Butchers of Bathgate. This year's event generated a record field of 122.

They submitted 713 products for judging – a 40 per cent increase on the first British Pie Championships 12 months ago – at the event in Melton Mowbray on Wednesday 19th May.

Fife-baker and butcher, Alan Stuart, founder of the World Scotch Pie Championship, now in its 11th year, said: “This is once again a testament to Scots bakers and butchers who continue to supply quality produce.

“Scots won four major awards last year but the competition was tougher and the challenge was really on. We've won two this year and earned three runners-up prizes. That is tremendous and winning awards generates a tremendous amount of positive publicity with translates into sales.”

Alan Stuart rubbing shoulders with Julia Bradbury (presenter BBC Countryfile) and
Charles Campion (Evening Standard and the Guardian) at the 2010 British Pie Awards

FOR THE RECORD: In 2009, Paul Boyle of Boghall Butchers, Bathgate, won the Best Fish Pie in Britain title, A J Learmonth of Jedburgh produced the Best Savoury Pie in Britain, MacDougall and Hastie of Inverness with the Best Football Pie in Britain and the Best Apple Pie in Britain title went to Stuart's of Buckhaven.