The World Championship Scotch Pie Awards will go ahead next year, organisers say

The long-running World Championship Scotch Pie Awards should be able to go ahead with its ceremony next year, but will be making changes to the structure of the Awards.

Winner of the 21st World Championship Scotch Pie Awards Alan Pirie, of James Pirie & Son in Blairgowrie, is pictured with host Carol Smillie at the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2020

Scottish Bakers today confirmed plans for the World Championship Scotch Pie Awards 2021 to go ahead next year, with a revised structure. Since being founded in 1999 by butcher and baker Alan Stuart, the Awards have brought Scotch pie makers together to compete for the ultimate prize of ‘Best Scotch Pie’.

Winner of ‘Best Scotch Pie’ at last year’s Awards was Alan Pirie of Blairgowrie butcher James Pirie & Son, who picked up the award for a second time – winning the Awards’ top accolade at 2018’s ceremony.

Bakers and butchers have previously battled it out to win awards for the best Bridie, Sausage Roll, Steak Pie and Best Football Pie or Savoury – with the much-loved Macaroni Pie added to the category line-up in 2017.

Alan Pirie, two-time winner of the top prize for Best Scotch Pie, pictured with his winning pies at the World Scotch Pie Championship Awards 2020

Chief Executive of Scottish Bakers, Alasdair Smith said: "This competition, which has run for 22 years, highlights the fantastic pastry products that bakers and butchers create every day from the humblest of ingredients. Recognising the best rewards excellence and raises the bar in the industry.

"Despite the strange circumstances, we are looking at adaptations which will enable us to give our working butchers and bakers the recognition they deserve for delivering great products day in and day out."

Scottish Bakers state that any information on the revised structure for next year’s World Championship Scotch Pie Awards will be made available on its website as soon as possible.