Oldham pie maker wins Best Pasty at British Pie Awards 2026

An Oldham social enterprise that gives former offenders a fresh start has taken top honors at the British Pie Awards, beating 47 other pasty makers to win Best Pasty for its Traditional Pasty. HMPasties, based in Oldham, creates classic beef and vegetable pasties while providing work opportunities to people with criminal convictions, helping them rebuild their lives and reduce reoffending rates.

The win came at the 18th annual British Pie Awards, where a record 187 judges sampled entries across 26 categories including vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. The judging panel featured food buyers from major supermarkets Tesco and Sainsbury's, food writers, journalists, and previous champion Neil Broomfield.

Matthew O'Callaghan, chairman of the Mowbray Pork Pie Association and host of the awards, praised the achievement: 'HMPasties was victorious amongst some stiff competition in the Pasty category with their iconic Traditional Pasty. These awards highlight the true skill, imagination and community spirit of pie makers across the UK, which is why this win is so well-deserved.

The Oldham-based company's success represents more than just a culinary achievement-it demonstrates how social enterprises can create meaningful employment opportunities while producing award-winning products. By combining traditional pasty-making skills with a mission to support rehabilitation, HMPasties has shown that businesses can be both commercially successful and socially impactful.