Fine Food & Drink

The Pie Mill

Jim & Margaret bought the Mill inn in October 2000 when it was run down. They set about improving the business and refurbished the bar & dining room. Custom was just beginning to increase steadily when the onset of Foot & Mouth decimated trade for several months in 2001.
 
This gave us the time, though, to rethink our strategy and in particular to plan how we were going to bring customers back. We realised that there was a need for high quality hand made pies and we used the time to try & test countless recipes until we felt that everything was right - from the shortcrust pastry to the fillings.
 
The pies were an instant success and we now sell approx. 14,000 per year in the pub. We offer a range of pies made with local ingredients and to distinctive and unique recipes which embody the character of Cumbria hence why they all have local names. Our first Pie Fest was held in November 2001 to help boost business in the quiet month of November. Pie Fest is now an annual event and is a weekend totally dedicated to eating pies, having fun and raising money for charity.
 
We were receiving an increasing number of requests from our customers to sell the pies as 'off-sales' to take home and out of this came the idea, and what we believe is a natural progression, for The Pie Mill.
  
The Pie Mill will be run by Jim & Margaret's youngest daughter Amanda with the help of Kate Currie who has been part of our team for 9 years.
 
Their eldest daughter, Lynn, will look after the marketing and administration.
 
Amanda & Kate are responsible for the pastry recipe and all our fillings are made to Jim's original recipes
 
visit the Pie Mill's website at http://www.piemill.com - this link will open in a new page