Great British Pork Pie Off 2015: Peter Weeden of Newman Street Tavern crowned champion

Weeden was chosen as victor for his Tamworth pork and simple seasoning pie, which will now be sold in Selfridges’ Food Hall.

Matt Reuther of the Princess Victoria won the People’s Pie award, counting the highest number of public votes for his pork, leek and bacon cold-raised pies with hot water crust made from freshly rendered Tamworth pork fat.

He said: “I feel elated and very, very pleased. I tried to keep it simple and use really good ingredients, that was the key. Also, I think mine was the most impressive looking pie.”

The winner was decided by a panel of judges including chef Rowley Leigh, “Pie Man” Andy Bates, restaurants director for Selfridges Hannah Bass and TV chef Valentine Warner.

James McLean, operations director at Truffle Hunting, said: “It’s been really fun. There was only one pie I didn’t think held the bar. A couple were quite interesting but did they push the envelope too far?”

Other entrants included 2014 winner Tom Langdon, head chef at the Garrison’s classic hand-raised pie with diced free range pork and smoked bacon filled with trotter jelly and Jamie Thickett of the Opera Tavern’s Iberico pork pie with Iberian ham, cured Iberico pork belly, Old Spot pork belly and herbs and spices.

Aidan McGee of Top 50 Gastropubs finalists the Truscott Arms’ entered the contest's only gluten free pie, which featured slow-roasted pork pie with smoked bacon, braised red cabbage, chestnut mushroom and cider jelly.

Andrew Fishwick, owner of the Truscott Arms, said: “It was such a high standard of pie. What I love about this event is seeing people reinventing the pie.   

“All the chefs pretended that it was just a bit of fun but the truth is they all massively care.”

All proceeds from the event were donated to charity Action Against Hunger, which works to combat food poverty.

McLean added: “It’s been good fun and at the end of the day we raised some money for a good cause.”