A British staple; there’s nothing more comforting than a plate of pie and mash. From gastropubs to local butchers, we pick 12 of the best places to pick up a pie in the Cotswolds
1. The Weighbridge Inn, Minchinhampton
The Weighbridge Inn in Minchinhampton is a quintessential countryside pub offering a warm welcome, roaring log fires and a long list of real ales on tap. When discussing where to tuck into a delicious pie, the list wouldn’t be complete without their 2n1 pie – the renowned favourite of locals with a secret recipe crafted over 40 years ago.
Each pie is packed with a filling of your choice (from melt in the mouth steak & mushroom to turkey with all the trimmings) alongside cauliflower cheese topped with soft, golden brown pastry. The meat is sourced locally from Jessie Smith’s in Tetbury.
2. The Stable, Cheltenham
Located in the bustling Cheltenham town centre, and only a short walk from the beautiful Promenade and Montpellier area, The Stable is well known for its extensive range of sourdough pizzas and long list of ciders. With low lighting, cosy booths and long rustic benches, and a lively atmosphere, its a great place to grab food and catch up with friends!
Alongside cider and pizzas, The Stable also rustles up a range of delicious homemade pie to quell those hunger pangs. Served alongside tasty herb roasted wedge potatoes, pickled onion and tomato chutney, choose from a selection of pies hand-crafted in the West Country from The Lamb Bam Boogie (lamb, rosemary, garlic potato & honey) to the vegetarian friendly The Squish Squash (spiced butternut squash, sweet potato, goats’ cheese, spinach & plum chutney), among many, all housed in a delicious short crust pastry.
3. The Beehive Pub, Cheltenham
Nestled just a stone’s throw away from Cheltenham’s Suffolk Square, The Beehive Pub serves up tasty, traditional pub grub done well. Tuck into one of the award-winning Tom’s pies served at the pub, with its trademark buttery short-crust pastry alongside one of the many locally sourced ales on tap.
With a jovial atmosphere where locals and visitors sit side-by-side, this much-loved community pub is the perfect spot for a leisurely lunch or an evening’s meal out.
A service station with a difference, the award-winning Gloucester Services dismisses fast food chains and soggy sandwiches in favour of mouth-watering foodie treats showcasing producers from up and down the country in their farmshop.
Located between junctions 11a and 12 on the M5, find an excuse to stop off and pick up one of the homemade, speciality pies – you won’t be disappointed!
5. Royal Oak, Burford
A traditional pub, with oak beams and a roaring log fire, the Royal Oak is an ideal stop-off for those needing to relax and refuel. In the summer months, visitors can even soak up the lovely weather in the sun trapped beer garden!
Tucked away from Burford’s lively high street, the pub is well known throughout the market town for serving up a plate of sumptuous homemade pie and mash. With portions plentiful, hunger pangs will be quelled with traditional favourites such as steak and ale or chicken, leek and mushroom alongside creamy mash, seasonal vegetables and red wine gravy.
6. Cotswold Pudding & Pie Company
For over 20 years, The Cotswold Pudding & Pie Company has been supplying farm shops, delicatessens and public houses throughout the region and surrounding counties of Worcestershire and Warwickshire, a vast array of delicious pies.
From pork pies perfect for picnics to delectable hot pies to eat for dinner at home, try to catch Cotswold Pudding & Pie Company at a local food market including Bourton-on-the-Water’s on every fourth Sunday and Warwick’s every Saturday.
Delectable chunks of meat in a rich gravy and buttery homemade pastry – is your mouth watering yet? Passionate about the livestock they breed and rear, and alongside a dedicated team of butchers and cooks, a lot of love goes into producing The Cotswold Farmer pies available to buy at Warners Budgens.
From chicken and mushroom to beef, Guinness and ale, Farmhouse Gold sausage rolls and scrumptious pork pies, you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to picking your homemade treat. Find Warners Budgens in Broadway, Bidford-on-Avon, Moreton-in-Marsh, Tewkesbury, Quedgeley, Winchcombe.
8. The Crown & Tuns, Deddington in Banbury
Oxfordshire’s “pie pub”, The Crown & Tuns is famous for its extensive choice of pies to tuck into. Covered in a tasty, light puff pastry, there are plenty of fillings to choose from their black board covering the pub wall. The regularly changing menu has featured peppered steak, mushroom, brandy & cream, minted lamb & potato to smoky fish with a cheesy potato top – fillings can range from firm favourites to intriguing inventions.
Whether visiting the charming, 16th-century watering-hole in summer or winter, either find a table among the cosy interiors or the pretty pub garden. Make sure to visit when you’re particularly peckish – portions are huge and the puddings are well worth attempting!
Winner of ‘Butcher of the Year’ at Cotswold Life Food & Drink Awards 2016 and finalist at the 2017 awards, Andy Creese Butchers in Newent is an essential part of the town’s community. Customers can expect a tantalising array of meats, locally sourced produce and homemade products which are lovingly crafted on the premise.
Alongside homemade ready meals, faggots, sausage rolls, scotch eggs and pates, an Andy Creese Butchers’ pie is a fantastic teatime treat alongside mash and vegetables – yum!
10. The Kings Arms, Stow-on-the-Wold
One of our favourite historic pubs, The Kings Arms boasts beautiful Cotswold stone frontage, vintage touches to the décor and a busy, jovial atmosphere. With a regularly changing menu making the most of seasonal produce, dinner at this Stow-on-the-Wold hotel is always a delightful affair.
Visit on a Wednesday evening when their famous proper pie, served with creamy mash and mushy peas can be enjoyed alongside a drink of your choice £10.95.
11. Blue Boar, Chipping Norton
After exploring the charming town of Chipping Norton, head to the end of the High Street where you’ll find the recently refurbished Blue Boar, a homely local with delightful furnishings housed in a gorgeous listed building dating back to the 17th-century.
The menu is brimming with tasty British classics, and the pies are a must try. No soggy pastry here – the “Chef’s Pie”, a selected pie filling of the day encased in a crispy, yet soft pastry is a truly unforgettable eating experience.
12. Plenty Pies
Our list of the tastiest pies to find in the region wouldn’t be complete without the award-winning Plenty Pies. Set up by Marc and Kate Birch in November 2010, each pie is carefully crafted in their bakery in Nailsworth. Over the years, more than 150 fillings have been created – from the tasty classics to more inventive options to fill their melt-in-the-mouth pastry.
You can always find Plenty Pies at the Stroud Farmers’ Market which takes place every Saturday from 9am-2pm, as well as a number of local stores, including Gloucester Services, and pubs too.
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