The mum and daughter who bake the best pub pies in Britain

Tara and Shannon Eades, who work their magic in the kitchen of The Plough Inn, at Hickling, said they were ‘shocked’ to win the Pub Pie category at the British Pie Awards in Melton Mowbray.

As well as their class win with a delicious Lamb and Mint Pie, the duo scored two gold awards, two silvers and three bronzes with their other entries – a Chicken Fajita Pie, Game Pie, Steak & Stilton Pie, Chicken Pie and Steak & Stout Pie.

Delighted landlord, Chris Dyson, told the Melton Times: “I’m so proud of the girls in the kitchen.

"It’s fantastic for the pub.

"We can now genuinely say we serve the best pub pies in Britain.”

Chris, who took over the 18th century Hickling Basin pub back in 2020, decided to focus the menu on pies because of their clear popularity with customers.

Tara and Shannon nearly missed their moment of glory after only finding out less than two hours before Friday’s presentation that their presence was required because they were in the running for awards.

There followed a mad dash to get to St Mary’s Church just in time to see the certificates and trophies handed out.

Shannon, who started out working at the pub as a pot washer before taking over a permanent role assisting her mum in the kitchen, said: “Because we were late arriving we were on a little table for two at the back.

“We were shocked to win a class because we were up against big companies and lots of big butchers and shops.

"We’ve already got some great ideas for new pies.”

So what is the secret of their award-winning pies? Tara explained: “Our pies have plenty of meat and the meat is very tender.

“It was the second year we’ve entered the British Pie Awards and we took back some learning from that to use in our pies for this year.”

The pub has run two pie-eating contests and has a Wednesday and Thursday offer of buy one pie and get a second half-price.

Chris added: “People love walking around the canal and then popping in here for a lovely warm pie.”