Pie shop success a lifesaver for Oliver
LORD OF THE PIES OWNER OPENS THIRD BRANCH AFTER HIS BATTLE WITH CANCER
AWARD-WINNING pie shop Lord of the Pies has opened in Chorlton – marking a major milestone in its owner’s recovery from cancer.
Oliver Doyle, who founded the shop together with partner Lindsay Mekie in Stockport in 2011, credits the business with saving his life after they moved to Macclesfield to open their second site.
With the move came a change of doctor, who sent Oliver for urgent tests to investigate symptoms his previous GP had dismissed.
He was diagnosed with a rare type of adrenal cancer and lost a kidney during a risky surgery to remove the tumour.
Lindsay was told to prepare for the worst – but a year on, they have just opened the third branch of their award-winning business, completing much of the physical graft themselves. “It’s a big achievement and a bit of a personal battle really,” said Oliver.
“It’s not easy doing construction work when you’ve got a massive cut from front to back, it’s been painful swinging hammers around and stuff like that, but I feel stronger now.”
Together the couple have transformed the former Hickson and Black’s cheesemonger and deli on Barlow Moor Road into a traditional but modern British cafe and beer house, with wooden floorboards and tables, a tiled kitchen and counter and a bare brick chimney breast hung with stag antlers.
It seats around 22 people inside and also has a terrace with three picnic benches seating another 12 or so out front.
The menu features all Lord of the Pies’ classic bakes, including confit pork and Bury black, beef and ale with roasted mushrooms and pulled chicken balti, as well as regularly changing specials, to eat in or take away.
Diners will be able to pair their pies with locally sourced craft beer and real ale from the likes of Thornbridge and Bollington breweries.
“People have loved it. We had a really nice day when we opened on Wednesday – lots of people said they had been waiting for it,” said Oliver. Lord of the Pies is now open seven days a week at 559a Barlow Moor Road. Follow @LordofthePies GB on Twitter for the latest updates. Oliver Doyle