Kebab Pie, a ‘Fusion Pie’ made by Boghall Butchers of Bathgate in West Lothian, Scotland has been crowned ‘Pie of Pies’ or Supreme Champion at the 2025 British Pie Awards.
Hosted in Britain’s pork-pie capital Melton Mowbray, this unique pie overcame over 900 mouth-watering entries from some of the UK’s most innovative pie-makers to take the crown.
Introduced as a new pie class in last years awards, the Fusion Pie Class celebrates fillings from different culinary heritages encased in a traditional pie case. This sector of the pie market has seen a significant rise in popularity both in shops selling pies as well as in gourmet restaurants. Amongst the 35 entries in this class were Chicken Tikka Pie, Pie Flower Salmon ‘Chaï-Matchaï’, Caribbean-style Jerk Spiced Turkey Pie with Cranberry Sauce and a Butternut and Malabar Pie.
The Kebab Pie is a doner kebab filling of principally chicken, beef and a chilli marinade with a sweet chilli sauce. The chief judge described the pie as having an excellent overall bake and presentation. Amazing pastry, a filling which was tasty and well-seasoned which definitely had the wow factor. Its maker Boghall Butchers of Scotland, are regular winners of not just meat classes at the awards but vegetarian and dessert pies as well. This Supreme Champion Award ends a 17 year wait for ultimate recognition for one of Britain’s best piemakers.
Following their win, The Supreme Champions will be invited to Japan, to showcase the winning pie as part of the British Food Week in October at the Hankyu Department Store in Osaka.
The pie-oneering awards, now in its 17th year, celebrate the nation’s most delicious pies – from the traditionally British to the tantalisingly innovative and totally whacky. The contest comprises 26 different classes or types of pie including traditional favourites as well as Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free Pies.
This year’s awards have also seen the introduction of new categories, including Steak and Wine, Steak and Ale, to make the judging more streamlined. Other stand out Class Winning pies were a Keralan cauliflower chickpea and onion bhaji pasty and a Christmas Dinner Pie.
The British Pie Awards recruited the most qualified pie connoisseurs to judge every single entry. A record 169 judges are on the panel, with extensive industry experience between them. This year, the judging panel included representatives from Selfridges, M&S and illustrious department store Fortnum and Mason, alongside esteemed food writers and a Great British Bake Off winner, as well as a plethora of chefs and pie experts.
Matthew O’Callaghan, Chairman of the Melton Pork Pie Association and host of the British Pie Awards, said: “The pie is Britian’s most important contribution to world food heritage. The British eat over £1billion of pies every year; hot-cold, sweet-savoury and now gluten free, vegan, fusion etc. These awards celebrate the skills and ingenuity of all those involved in pie-making, from traditional recipes to more exotic creations, it’s been wonderful to be immersed in the collected passion for pies – traditional British fare, often showcased with a modern twist.”
The Kebab Pie takes over the title of Supreme Champion from Middleton-In-Teesdale Fish & Chip Shop, that smashed the competition in 2024 with its Minted Wensleydale Lamb & Potato Pie and won against 35 other contenders in the hotly contested Lamb Pie category.
Sponsor Simon Taylor of the Melton Building Society celebrating its 150th anniversary, said: “On behalf of the Melton Building Society, I am delighted to congratulate the Kebab Pie. This extraordinary pie exemplifies the perfect marriage of traditional craftsmanship and innovative flavour that we have come to expect from the British Pie Awards. This winning creation showcases the very best of British pie-making excellence.”
Historic Note
Pies have been with us since the Middle Ages when they were called ‘coffyns’. At that time the poor ate pies made from the entrails of venison, which are called ‘umbles’ hence the expression ‘To Eat Umble Pie”.