One couple set off on a gastronomic quest to establish which region of the nation produces the finest pies.
Britain boasts an abundance of classic fare, from fish and chips to Sunday dinners and scones. Yet pies occupy a special position in the affections of Britons.
Whether it’s shepherd’s pie, cottage pie, pasties, or pies wrapped in shortcrust or puff pastry, the choices appear limitless.
But whilst there are numerous methods to consume pies, particular varieties prove more favoured across different areas of the nation. So, who crafts superior pies – the north or the south?
This was the inquiry duo Ryan and Jade sought to resolve as they journeyed to Wigan and London to match their respective pies against each other.
The couple then used TikTok – where they boast more than 559,700 followers – to reveal their discoveries in a two-part video series.
“Which is best? Pies in the north, or pies in the south? Let’s find out,” announced Ryan before the pair ventured to the northern ‘home of pie’.
Nevertheless, before they could taste their initial pie at the celebrated Galloways Bakers, Jade explained: “You can’t get a pie in Wigan without getting a barm cake.”
She continued to unwrap her pie and tuck it within the barm cake, fashioning her own pie barm.
“This is from Galloways Bakers. It’s meant to be one of the best pies in the north,” Jade detailed. “It actually looks amazing. It was £2.90 for the pie, and 70p for the barm base.”
So, what’s the final word? So far, so good.
Ryan said, taking his first bite: “I can see why Galloways is so popular.”
Jade clarified that they had chosen a meat and potato pie, which according to the bakery is one of their best sellers.
Ryan rated the pie an 8.3 out of 10, confessing he wasn’t entirely sold on the idea of the pie barm. But was it enough to surpass the pies from the south?
That’s what they set out to find as they boarded a train to London to try the capital’s pie offerings.
Upon asking for recommendations from their viewers, they were pointed towards Goodards in Greenwich, famous for its traditional pie and mash meals.
After presenting their meals – both choosing individual plates of pie and mash covered in ‘liquor’, a parsley sauce – Ryan remarked: “You wouldn’t get this up North. This is a very London dish.”
Jade was then surprised to learn of a significant difference between northern and southern pies when she asked if they had any gravy and was told that they do, but it’s ‘just for tourists’. She then commented: “So… I’ve obviously got the liquor.”
Finally, it was time to taste the second pie to see how it stacked up. But before that, Jade announced that she could eat ‘a whole plate’ of the mash because it was so tasty.
Ryan disclosed that their meal cost them £5.40 each, nearly double the price of the Wigan pie. After finishing their pies, it was time to give the verdict.
“And with our scientific experiment complete, we crown Wigan the winner the winner,” Ryan announced.
Viewers quickly took to the comment section of the videos to voice their opinions on which location boasted the best pie.
“Gravy just for tourists? Wouldn’t get that up north,” one viewer quipped, while another chimed in: “Nothing can beat a Galloways pie.”
“Swear in Wigan it’s called a Wigan kebab,” another person commented.