New festival event in Melton will enable public to try and buy some of country's best pies

A total of 830 pies were entered across 20 different classes at last year's British Pie Awards held in Melton's St Mary's Church EMN-160128-164544001

The first-ever Festival of Pies, launched by Melton Promotions, will be held in the Market Place on Saturday, March 12, from 10am to 4pm.

It will round off the prestigious British Pie Awards which will be held in St Mary’s Church on Wednesday, March 9, with winners set to be announced on Friday, March 11.

The Pie Awards - a competition which attracts entries from hundreds of pie-makers each year as well as putting the national spotlight on Melton - have become a badge of honour among experts of the craft and an institution for pastry-connoisseurs countrywide.

But until now members of the public have had little opportunity to become involved, other than view the spectacle of the pies being judged.

The new Festival of Pies, which will also conclude British Pie Week, will enable the public to taste and buy an award-winning pie as well as enjoying music and street entertainment throughout the day.

The winners of the British Pie Awards’ supreme champion award will have a prime pitch reserved within the festival and there will be an opportunity for producers to hire a pre-erected stall or a pitch space to erect their own stall or gazebo. This will be offered to producers at an introductory price of £35 for the day.

Lisa Brown, tourism development officer on behalf of Melton Promotions, said: “We’re hoping the festival can become one of the town’s major annual events. The Pie Awards attract a huge amount of national media attention and we think Melton could take advantage of this by creating a public event on the back of it.”

Festival stall-holders will be asked to dress their stalls according to a British red, white and blue theme/ branding. A free pack of branded bunting will be sent to every stallholder prior to the event within their exhibitor information pack.

If you would like to take part in the exciting new Festival of Pies event you can call Lisa Brown on (01664) 502335 or 07717 866251 or email [email protected]

For more information about this year’s British Pie Awards, including how to enter, you can visit www.britishpieawards.co.uk

You can also follow on Twitter @BritishPies or visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BritishPieAwards/

Entries for this year’s British Pie Awards close on February 22.