Sussex pie companies have triumphed at the British Pie Awards this year.

Midhurst pie-maker Mud Foods took home the awards for best speciality meat and game pie with its Mud Foods' game pie.

It also picked up a second award for best "free from" pie with its gluten-free chicken, ham and leek pie.

Turner’s Pies Ltd in Worthing impressed the judges enough with its mushroom and asparagus pie to be crowned best vegetarian pie at the awards, beating 55 other entries in the category.

The Argus: The Veg Pie Collective scooped a silver and bronze award at the British Pie AwardsThe Veg Pie Collective scooped a silver and bronze award at the British Pie Awards (Image: The Veg Pie Collective)

And Brighton company The Veg Pie Collective scooped a silver award for its cheese and potato pie while its mushroom and tarragon pie won bronze.

The "pie-oneering" awards, now in their 15th year, celebrate the nation’s most delicious pies – from the traditionally British to the tantalisingly innovative and totally whacky.

The Argus: Turner's Pies Ltd at the British Pie AwardsTurner's Pies Ltd at the British Pie Awards (Image: The British Pie Awards)

They were held in Melton Mowbray on March 10.

Matthew O’Callaghan, chairman of the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association and host of the British Pie Awards, said: “We are always highly encouraged to see the nation’s love of pies at these annual awards, and this year there has been a huge level of excitement and creativity.

“On Wednesday we had the pleasure of enjoying some spectacular pies, and both Mud Foods and Turner's Pies Ltd have overcome exceptionally stiff competition for best pies in their respective categories. These awards celebrate the skill of British piemakers across the nation, so I’d like to say a particular congratulations to them for this success.”

The Argus: MUD Foods at the British Pie AwardsMUD Foods at the British Pie Awards (Image: The British Pie Awards)

The contest comprises 23 different classes or types of pie including traditional favourites and newcomers such as vegan and gluten free pies. 

This year in a surprise twist, meat-based pie entries dominated the top four classes for the first time since 2019, with beef and any flavour topping the entry rankings.

Other memorable entries included a Marmite and cheese concoction and fusion pies such as balti pies, vindaloo pies, kebab pies, and even Baldy’s “Nearly As Good As Mama Joan's Lasagne Pie”.