Best speciality meat pie in Scotland is in Dumfries

A DISH he once enjoyed in a restaurant was the inspiration behind a Dumfries butcher’s pie that has been named the best Speciality Meat Pie in Scotland.

Daniel West’s chicken, ham and asparagus tart beat 80 other entries to scoop the title in the Scottish Craft Butchers Awards 2025.

And it’s the first ever national award for Mogerleys Butchers.

He said: “We were looking for something a little bit different and I settled on putting one of my favourite food combinations inside a pastry casing.

“I first tasted chicken, ham and asparagus in a restaurant and loved the flavour mix.”

His prized pie features a puff pastry base with meat, vegetable and sauce then a pastry lid scattered with seasoned crumb.

Judges described it as “a stunning pie”, adding: “It has a great balance of flavours and would taste just as good served cold.”

Daniel added: “There’s no real secret. I’m passionate about food, passionate about flavours and passionate about cooking. So, the only extra ingredient is that perhaps a little bit of that passion shines through in the pie.”

The 33-year-old took over the Friars Vennel shop, run by his Papa and his Uncle Gordon, three years ago.

“I just want to be like them,” he said, “and make them proud. They were both amazing butchers and winning this national title shows I’m doing something right.

Congratulating him, Gordon King, of Scottish Craft Butchers, said:

“This is a product worthy of a Scottish title and well worth making the journey to Dumfries for.”