Gold for Cloughbane Farm in British Pie Awards

Cloughbane Farm Foods in Northern Ireland has gained Gold and Bronzemedalsin the prestigious British Pie Awards. The farm-based business from Pomeroy in rural county Tyrone gained the Gold award for its Turkey with Stuffing Pie and Bronze for its Chicken Ham & Leek Pie. The awards are the most recent in a series won by the company including Great Taste Awards particularly for premium beef and pies.

The pie-judging event, now in its sixth year, took place at St Mary's Church in Melton Mowbray, home of the famous pork pie, and just over 800 pies were tested overall.

The awards are a national celebration of British pies in all their varieties. They also seek to protect and promote regional specialities, support British produce and to recognise the craft skills of butchers, bakers and other producers.

There were 19 categories in total, from speciality pie to football pie and vegetarian pie, and the panel of 110 expert judges included food critic Charles Campion, and television chefs Rachel Green and Andy Bates. They were looking for filling, texture, taste and appearance. A gold, silver and bronze medal was awarded for every category.

The company, established in 2002, on a family farm owned and run by Sam and Lorna Robinson and their sons, is now among the most successful and progressive farm diversification businesses in Northern Ireland. It draws its meat, mostly from Aberdeen Angus and Limousin cattle, raised on 180 acres of rich pasture in County Tyrone.

As well as beef, the farm raises lamb and free-range eggs. The company sources supplies of high quality meat from other local farmers. It also rears its own poultry.

Lorna Robinson says: "Winning gold in the British Pie Awards is another important quality endorsement and will help us as we continue to grow sales of all our products in Britain.

"Provenance is a key marketing feature for us. Customers know that the products use ingredients from our farm and surrounding farms and that they are processed to the highest hygiene and welfare standards."

Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association chairman Matthew O'Callaghan said: "The competition was tougher than ever this year. Congratulations to all our winners and thanks all who entered this year's awards - together we have shown there is nothing humble about the British pie!"