The Ten Best Posh Pies

2. Piemill, Beef, black pudding and mushrooms - £3.30
Some found this robust affair a tad dry, but there was no faulting the succulent chunks of beef, or the beautifully balanced and well flavoured black pudding and mushrooms.
www.piemill.co.uk;
01768 779 994 

3. Higgidy, Lemon chicken, bacon, lentils and spinach - £3.49
A commanding citrus flavour permeates this first-class pie, with the zesty spinach a perfect match. The lentils are, perhaps, a step too far, but nobody complained.
www.higgidy.co.uk;
01273 446 830

4. Pie Minister Moo, Beef and ale - £4.25
This rich beef and ale combination from the Bristol firm’s impressive range will keep traditional pie enthusiasts happy, with plenty of succulent meat washed down with robust ale.
www.pieminister.co.uk;
0117 942 3300

5. Lidgate, Game - from £21 (serves three)
The search for the king of pies ends here. This hearty mix of pheasant, venison, boar, partridge and hare, encased in perfect pastry, vanished in minutes. Worth every penny.
Lidgate, London;
020-7727 8243

6. M&S Gastropub, Aberdeen Angus beef, ale and mushroom - £5.99
Light, crispy pastry hides tender cuts of prime beef, flavoursome mushrooms and a generous splash of ale. It’s a pie few could fault.
www.marksandspencer.co.uk;
0845 302 1234

7. Waitrose, Braised steak and burgundy - £3.49
Ale seems to be the tipple of choice for pie makers, but if you’d rather a hearty glass of red in the mix, you could do worse than this reasonably priced offering from Waitrose.
www.waitrose.com;
0800 188 884

8. Tesco Finest, Scotch steak - £3.48
The rather sloppy filling in this no-frills pie was not its finest feature, said some tasters. But delicate pastry and some prime chunks of decent beef meant it still scored highly.
www.tesco.com;
0845 722 5533 

9. Abel & Cole, Steak and stilton - £9.90 (serves four)
A hand-crimped lid of buttery shortcrust covers a generous filling of tender beef steak and gutsy Stilton. A hearty creation, it cries out to be accompanied by a large glass of red.
www.abelandcole.co.uk;
0845 262 6262 

10. Bigham’s, Beef and ale - £7.99 (pack of two)
Charlie Bigham’s firm has been producing top-notch food for more than 10 years. This wonderfully traditional beef and ale pie is finished with a splash of Worcestershire sauce.
www.ocado.com;
0845 399 1122