News you can trust since 1817

Where to find Scotland's best football pies

Everyone loves a hearty half-time pie but which of Scotland's stadiums offer the best?

Published: February 23, 2016
Categories:

With the cheapest average season ticket price in the SPFL being around £299.75, it's the little things like a warm cup of Bovril and a delicious pie at half time that can add a little value to your match experience.

As with all things in football, having the best half-time pie served at your ground can be a real draw for fans and become a source of pride - and of course bragging rights.

So which stadiums in Scotland actually do serve Scotland's best football pies?

Scotland's best football pie

The 2016 football prize at the recent 2016 Scotch Pie Awards went to Bruce of The Broch, a Fraserburgh bakery which supplies the junior club Fraserburgh United.

But what about the famous Killie Pie you ask? Well don't worry, Brownings the Bakers, makers of the multi-award winning Killie steak pie sold at Kilmarnock’s Rugby Park, maintained their position as the best in the Scottish Premiership.

Dumfries-based The Little Bakery, suppliers to Queen of the South, had its scotch pies named as the best in the SPFL.

Pies

The Little Bakery

Silver and bronze awards were given to Pars Foods of Glasgow, whose steak pies can be found on sale at Pittodrie, Tynecastle, Easter Road, Ibrox and Almondvale.

MasterChef's Jamie Scott tells us about his new Sandbanks Brasserie in Broughty Ferry

Fans of Highland League football can sample the highly recommended pies made by Cafe V8 at the home of Clachnacuddin in Inverness.

Scotland's best Scotch Pie

If you truly want Scotland's best Scotch pie then you'll have to head down to Ayrshire.

Fans of Ardrossan Winton Rovers, Irvine Victoria and Ardeer Thistle may not always have much to cheer on the park - but they can look forward to buying one of the best pies in the country at half-time.

The three part-time clubs are all catered for by The Kandy Bar, a Saltcoats bakery which was named national scotch pie champion at the recent 2016 Scotch Pie Awards.

7 of the best Scottish fish and chip shops with a view
17th World Scotch Pie Championships 2016 Scotch Pie Champions The Kandy Bar, Saltcoats. Stephen and Rona McAllister

Stephen and Rona McAllister

Owner Stephen McAllister is the fourth generation of his family to run the business.

“Our recipe for success is simple - we source the best ingredients to make our pies,” he said. “We use the finest minced Scotch beef - we would never scrimp on that. We also use our own mix of spices, and like to think we have the pie shells and lids down to perfection.

“The original recipe was my grandfather’s, and I’ve never had to change it.”

The competition is organised by industry associations Scottish Bakers and Scottish Craft Butchers, with the aim of promoting the very best local produce.

16 top places to eat in and around the East Neuk of Fife - including The Cellar and Peat Inn

A record 100 butchers and bakers entered more than 500 varieties of pies, pasties, sausage rolls, bridies, savouries and apple pies in this year’s competition.

The Kandy Bar’s overall triumph follows their victory last year in the best football pie category, which was first awarded in 2013.

But what makes a pie worthy of a prize?

Ronnie Murdoch, director of Murdoch Brothers butchers in Forres, believes its an art difficult to master.

His business won the inaugural football pie category in 2013, although no longer supplies local side Forres Mechanics.

“You’re looking to get the balance of meat and gravy right,” he said. “If the gravy is too thin, it will pour all over you - which you don’t want at the football.

“It’s also vital to have a good shell, so the whole thing doesn’t collapse when you try to pick it up.”

Meanwhile, Mr McAllister will be in his Saltcoats shop on Saturday morning ready to make a fresh batch of his award-winning pies if required.

“I’ll be on stand-by if the Ardrossan game beats the weather and goes ahead,” he said. “Away fans know they can expect a quality pie when they visit.”

Let us know what you think

comments

Copyright ©2023 National World Publishing Ltd
Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy
crossmenu linkedin facebook pinterest youtube rss twitter instagram facebook-blank rss-blank linkedin-blank pinterest youtube twitter instagram