The first ever World Amateur Pork Pie Championships is to take place at The Grainstore Brewery, Oakham, on 30th July.
The Grainstore Brewery, which will be hosting The World Amateur Pork Pie Championships
It will form part of the three-day Ale House Rocks music and beer festival. The pork pie contest will be hosted by the Rutland Pork Pie Appreciation Society, a local organisation that meets regularly over hand-raised pies and beers at The Grainstore.
Self-professed pork pie experts are invited to measure their skills in two categories:
- Class one: Traditional pork pie participants can enter creations that must be hand-raised, with only fresh pork meat (not cured) and seasoning used in the filling. Furthermore, all pies in this category must also be wholly enclosed in a hot water crust pastry.
- Class two: Custom pie chefs can let their creativity run wild, with pies allowed to be either hand-raised or formed in a hoop or tin. Any meat (cured or uncured) and seasoning may be added to the filling, but must contain at least 50% pork. All fillings must be set in a hot water crust pastry, but can be topped and sealed with something other than pastry.
The winners of each of the categories will take home a tankard, with the overall competition winner claiming the title of World Amateur Pork Pie Champion. They will receive a trophy sponsored by Moores Estate Agents.
Entry to the championship costs £5. All proceeds are going to the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme, a regional network of volunteer doctors with specialist training in pre-hospital emergency medicine. They assist East Midlands Ambulance Service at the scene of life-threatening emergencies.
The Ale House Rocks Festival itself is free entry and will be showcasing The Grainstore’s ales and cider, as well as some of the region’s best bands and musicians.
The Grainstore Brewery is in a converted Victorian grain store. There’s a 15-barrel brewhouse, with capacity to brew 60 barrels per week.
Located next to Oakham railway station, it has a varied selection of regular and seasonal beers and ciders on offer. These can be sampled over a hearty ploughman’s lunch or dinner, or taken home in single bottles or in gift packs.
Competition timeline
Deadline for entries: Sundaym 24th July, 11.59pm
Delivery of pies: Saturday, 30th July, 8am-10am
Judging begins: Saturday, 30th July, 11am
Judging closes: Saturday, 30th July, 2pm
Winners announcements: Saturday, 30th July, 4.45pm
