WIN a hamper to celebrate Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe's 175th birthday

The shop has been on its current site, in Nottingham Street, since 1851 although it was rebuilt in 1992 following a devastating fire and underwent a major refurbishment in 2024.

Its fascinating story goes back to noted pie maker Mark Dickinson, who was the first person to use a wooden dolly to raise the crust of a traditional Melton Mowbray pork pie.

Her grandson opened a bakery in the shop 175 years ago and he was joined by Joseph Morris in 1886 to begin the brand known to this day as Dickinson & Morris.

Another major milestone came about in 2009 when the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie was granted PGI Status, ensuring it has to be made to a specific recipe inside a tight geographical location.

And Dickinson & Morris is preparing to host a week of fun activities to mark the 175th birthday, between Monday June 22 and Saturday June 27.

There will be a heritage evening at the shop on the Monday where visitors can join a local historian and two master bakers to hear stories about the shop’s history and taste pies.

Email [email protected] to get one of the £10 tickets, which have a limited availability.

On the Tuesday, the first 175 customers at the shop to buy a Melton pie will get a special commemorative gift.

Pie demonstrations with the shop’s master bakers will take place throughout the week from Tuesday.

A street party will be held on the Saturday, from 11am to 2pm, with pie tastings, music, games and lots of family fun.

The Melton Times has teamed up with the Dickinson & Morris Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe to give away a luxury hamper, full of tasty food and merchandise.

Shop manager, Richard Griffiths, said: “To stand a chance of winning the hamper we want readers to share their favourite memory of the shop.

“This could be a letter, poem, video, short story, photo, some artwork.... even a dance!! The more creative, the better.”

Email [email protected] with your entries by Friday June 19 at 4pm.