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IN FULL: The north and north-east winners at the 2018 World Scotch Pie Championships

By Stuart Findlay

January 15 2018, 2:36 pm

More than 400 items were tasted by the judges

A string of bakeries in the north and north-east of Scotland have been heralded for their pies.

Nevis Bakery in Fort William were the region’s big winners at the annual World Scotch Pie Championships, scooping the diamond award, the top accolade, for its mince bridie in the bridie category.

The bakery also won a gold award for its beef and onion pie in the football pie category, which it serves to Fort William FC supporters.

Highland League punters are well-served when it comes to pies it seems, as Ashers Bakery in Nairn and Cafe V8 in Inverness both won bronze awards for their pies sold at Nairn County and Clachnacuddin respectively.

Ashers picked up three other awards, including two in the vegetarian savoury category.

Its sweet potato, spinach and chickpea pie won gold while its Thai veggie pie collected silver. The bakery’s Scotch pie also won a bronze award.

James Pirie & Son of Newtyle, Angus were announced as the 19th winner of the competition, making them 2018’s World Scotch Pie champion.

It was a busy day for judges at the awards luncheon in Cumbernauld as they ran the rule over 400 pies, sausage rolls, bridies, savouries and apple pies.

The awards were hosted by TV presenter Carol Smillie. She said: “Each and every butcher and baker here knows they make something special so a confirmation of this kind is the real icing on the cake.”

Craig McPhie, president of Scottish Bakers, said: “Once again we have brought together the best pies and baked goods in the land and today we can really celebrate the achievement of our hard working butchers and bakers.

“My heartfelt congratulations go to our world champion, and indeed everyone today taking away a prize, they are all winners in my book.”