PIES4U is upper crust when it comes to winning awards.

The West Kirby bakery business scooped a top award at this year’s British Pie Awards.

Tim Aldcroft and wife Claire know a thing or two about winning awards after taking home Wirral’s Best for Pies last year in our Best of 2023 search to find the area top restaurants and cafes, businesses and bars.

Three years ago, they were awarded bronze honours at the British Pie Awards for their butter chicken curry pie and last year they won bronze for their coq au vin pie and steak and stilton pie as well as gold for their three cheese and caramelised red onion.

This year is their highest result after being named reserve class winner for their coronation chicken pie.

Tim said: “We drove down to Melton Mowbray on Friday morning and came back that afternoon with our certificate!

“The coronation chicken pie was judged as one of the top three cold eating savoury pies in Great Britain being named the reserve class winner.

“We’re eagerly awaiting to read the judges’ feedback and see what they thought about the pie but customers absolutely love it.

“Most people are surprised by the depth of flavour – most coronation chicken recipes have four or five ingredients but we have 19!

“It was very popular last year with people having parties during the summer and customers loved how each one is packed with meat.”

He added: “As a small two-person business, run from our home kitchen, this brings us immense pride and joy to receive such high recognition.”

Tim and Claire with the other winners in their category

Tim and Claire with the other winners in their category

Tim and Claire started making pies before the Covid-19 pandemic and sold them at the farmers market in Hoylake, changing to home deliveries during local and national lockdowns.

They make their own pastry and all their own fillings from scratch and offer a variety of meat, vegetarian and vegan options each month selling about 200 each time at Heswall farmers’ market.

Tim said: “Thanks to Karma restaurant in West Kirby we tasted some delicious butter chicken and we decided that the only way it would taste better was if it was in a pie!

“I knew Claire and I could make a pie better than any we could we buy and we just love pies.

“My mum was a cookery lecturer in Oldham and I grew up with proper home cooked food.

“Somebody bought me a small two-pan pie maker – a bit like a toastie maker - and I started making pies.

“From there we got our first pie press and then bought a bigger one during lockdown to do more home deliveries.”

Pies4U will be at the farmers market at Heswall Hall this Saturday, March 16, between 10am and 2pm where they will be selling coronation chicken pies, three cheese and caramelised red onion pie, chicken, leak and mushroom pie and cassoulet pie.

Tim said: “I always believe that the effort you put in is reflected in the end result.

“We care about the fillings and the pastry and this shows in the finished pie.”