The campaign is calling for the traditional dish to benefit from the same protection granted to Cornish pasties and Bramley Apples, which means authentic ingredients and cooking methods must be used. Owner of Stacey’s, Terry McDowell, hailed the efforts to recognise the British staple as “lovely” and called the move important for the future of pie and mash shops. “It’s part of our heritage.
Eating habits have changed, it suffers because there is too much competition for pie and mash now. Five generations of Terry’s family have headed up pie and mash shops from Dagenham to Basildon, and he believes his shop is the oldest in the town. Jonny Malone, owner of Brickie’s, said he was pleasantly surprised to see the issue debated and thinks it’s important to preserve one of Britain’s oldest fast foods.
“I will be backing it most definitely. I think everyone in the pie and mash community will.”.