The idea for Ann Langdon and Phil Boswell's next business venture had seemed at one point like pie in the sky. The entrepreneurial duo transformed the fortunes of struggling Warwick pub The New Bowling Green.
They took the ailing boozer from mid-table mediocrity to ratings winner in no time at all after taking over the pub in 2018. Ranked in the mid-70s among local pubs on Tripadvisor, The New Bowling Green soon pulled in the punters to became the town's number one and the 3rd best restaurant in Warwick, courtesy of glowing reviews left on the leading travel platform.
Partly on the strength of their hugely popular pies, Ann and Phil also served up a Tripadvisor Travellers Choice Award four years running. Yet due to the impact of the pandemic and the sharp economic downturn, the pair found themselves in a position earlier this year where they could not renew the lease.
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As one door closed another opened and For the Love of Pies was born. It is, as you might have guessed, a Warwickshire-based start-up selling the sort of pies that had gone down so well at the pub.
"We have a passion for proper pies and handmake our own delicious pies from scratch," said Ann, 47, and from Coventry, and 30-year-old Phil, who is from Leamington. "We believe our pies are so special because of the focus we place on flavour and quality.
"All of our ingredients are fresh and we only use locally sourced free-range meat. Our popular flavours include Steak & Ale, Lamb & Mint, Chicken & Mushroom and Mushroom & Guinness. Most of the meat for our pies is slow cooked for 10+ hours to make sure we use every ounce of flavour that we can.
"We also make vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free pies so that everyone can enjoy our passion. Our proper pies have a shortcrust base and puff pastry top."
The pair are now hoping to convert even more people to their pies by bagging some clients in the hospitality and butchery trade and by selling to the public at various markets. One day they hope to have a van from which they can sell pies at events and festivals.
But for now its markets all the way for the budding young business. Having staffed the market in Warwick last week, you'll also find For the Love of Pies at the Covent Garden Quarter Market in Leamington Spa on Sunday, July 30 and the Coventry War Memorial Food Festival on August 13.
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