This week is British Pie Week 2023, so the ECHO looked at some of the best pies our county can offer.
St Helens has gained widespread esteem for its pies, with local bakers such as Pimblett's carrying the torch for the town for decades. The ECHO has sat down with several St Helens bakeries in the past couple of years.
Here are some of the highlights of the chats with iconic pie shops.
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Colin Greenall had been helping out his mum at their shop E & C Greenall since it was opened in 1954, and the shop would soon become a staple of St Helens town centre. The Duke Street bakery was opened by Elizabeth Greenall 69 years ago.
Elizabeth's son Colin began helping his mum and working at the store when he was just 10 years old and has looked after the shop ever since. He took over Greenall's in 1970 and spent years fighting off stiff competition to excel in the town.
The 78-year-old said he made "lots of great memories" in the store over the years and became a pillar of the local community. Despite his incredible career serving the people in St Helens, Colin made the decision to retire in November 2022, and the shop was closed.
Devastated customers sent their well-wishes, and shared memories of Greenall's.
Christine Henderson Sterry said: "One of the first pie shops I was introduced to when I started work at Pilks Cowley Hill. Colin hasn’t changed just his hair is white now. I guess they can’t go on forever but I will sincerely miss his baking."
One of the biggest names in the pie world, Pimblett's was founded over a century ago in 1921 by John and Mary Pimblett, and has been a staple in St Helens for many years. In 2008 the recession forced the company to hand over production of the pies to Arthur Bevan of Pimmies Pies Ltd, until 2021 when Pimblett's purchased the business back.
Pimblett's and Pimmies Pies were both favourites in the area, with the original St Helens branch of the bakery being popular with workers due to its location on Jackson Street, Westside Industrial Estate. People from all over the borough have sworn by Pimblett's Pies for over a century.
Offering stiff competition to these two iconic names, is the oldest shop in the entire town centre, Burchall's. The quality of the pies served up have granted the business legendary status in St Helens and beyond.
Speaking to the ECHO last year, owner John Burchall said: "We've been going around 100 years on this premises this year. I'm fifth generation. It started with my great, great grandfather and my great great grandmother.
"My great, great grandfather was a butcher and my great, great grandmother was a baker. So when they got together it was like 'I do pastries, you do meat, let's give it a go'.
"It's very much an honour really. I feel very humbled that I've managed to keep it going. I took over from my dad, he was a great man and I think people had their doubts whether I could hack it because I didn't come from a butchering background."
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