Butchers enjoy the life of pies
Lawson and Boghall firms enjoy wins
Two West Lothian butchers have been awarded top accolades.
John Lawson and Boghall Butchers both hit gold at the Scottish Craft Butchers Savoury Pastry Products Awards 2017.
John Lawson’s pies scooped four coveted Gold Awards.
The honour goes to the butcher’s Scotch pies, steak and wild mushroom pies, chicken and leek pies and chicken and pulled ham hough pies.
The butcher – who has shops in Uphall, Broxburn and Winchburgh – also lifted a Silver Award for his bridies.
John said he was “thrilled” for the family business to be recognised. He added: “The Scots love their pies and we are always coming up with new filling and trying them out on our customers.
“They are the business barometers – if they don’t like it, it won’t sell.
“These industry awards show we’re doing it right. To be judged at such a high standard by our peers is a real boost for the whole team. It’s tremendous.”
John’s three sons are now involved in the business, which he launched in 1979.
His brother runs the farming side of the operation which supplies prime beef to the family shops from farms at Bathgate and East Whitburn.
Bathgate’s Bogha l l Butchers also scored three Scottish Craft Butchers Gold Awards for their steak borderlaise pies, bridies and Scotch pies.
The long- established butchers also lifted three Silver Awards for their chicken curry pies, steak, mushroom and Madeira wine pies and handheld steak pies.
Ma na ge r Stewart McSorley said that the whole team at their Bathgate and Broxburn shops get involved in the recipes.
He said: “Boghall Butchers have become as well known for our pies as for our fresh meat. We produce thousands each week and the products speak for themselves.
“You don’t get industry awards like this for nothing and it’s a great boost for everyone.”
Lawson and Boghall butchers were among roughly 60 Scots butchers who submitted nearly 300 variety of handcrafted pies, sausage rolls and bridies across six categories.
Douglas Scott, chief of Scottish Craft Butchers, said this year’s standard had raised the bar.
He said: “Customers are demanding top quality and an ever-increasing range of outstanding products and Scottish butchers like John Lawson and Boghall are leading the way.
“Their pies were judged to be among the very best you can buy in your local Scottish butchers and we’re delighted they’ve secured Gold Awards from their industry.
“These awards show customers just what a high standard their local butcher sets.”