The annual British Pie Awards 2019 is now open for entry, and this year sees the introduction of three new elements including a vegan pie class.

The 2019 British Pie Awards is to be held on Friday 8th March 2019 in the pork pie capital of Melton Mowbray, with judging taking place on Wednesday 6th March.

This year sees the introduction of three all-new elements including; The Vegan Pie Class, Special annual themed Fish & Chip Shop Pie Class and Best Young Piemaker Award.

The Awards, hosted during British Pie Week (4th-10th March 2019), celebrates the nation’s love of pies – whether hot or cold, sweet or savoury, consumers eat around £1billion-worth of them every year.

There are only a few rules that must be adhered too: all pies are to be totally encased in pastry, so they must have a closed top, and must be baked. They must also fit into one of the 23 pre-assigned classes. All entries must be commercially available in the UK.

Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association and host of the British Pie Awards said: “Over the past 11 years we’ve judged over 8,000 pies, with the help of around 150 pie connoisseurs and culinary experts.

“Each pie is judged on presentation, consistency and, of course, flavour – it’s a very serious, albeit delicious, undertaking!

“Every year we’re blown away by the creativity and quality that goes into reinventing, or perfecting, a national favourite. With the new Vegan Pie Class and Fish & Chip Shop Class, we expect this year will be equally exciting, if not more so.”

Entry to the Awards is now open and will run until 5pm on Friday 15th February 2019.

Pie makers are able to enter the awards at www.britishpieawards.co.uk