Pie and Mash

Pie & Mash dining should in no way be treated as a “cordon bleu” experience. This is real old-fashioned, traditional London dining.

With all due respect these are not so much restaurants but cafes. Nevertheless if you want to experience old London, this is an experience you would not want to miss. Pie, Mash and liquor, jellied eels and eels with gravy are all very cheap. My recommendation is try something new!

The primary dish is pie, mash and ‘liquor’ – a minced beef and pastry pie served with mashed potato and a type of parsley sauce called liquor (although it is non-alcoholic). Liquor traditionally has a green color which is not from food coloring but the parsley and it’s also traditionally made using the water kept from the preparation of stewed eels. Pie and mash shops also serve old-fashioned desserts such as jam roly poly and spotted dick.

There are still a few pie and mash shops around. Here’s a selection:

BJ’s Pie & Mash

330 Barking Road, London, E13 8HZ                                +44 (0)207 474 3389

Nearest Tube:   Upton Park or East Ham both on the Hammersmith/City (pink) & District (green) lines

Established:                        1985

Pie & Mash Club:              Highly recommended

BJ’s is a very popular restaurant. It is very close to West Ham United Football Club and on match days is very busy. I have seen the queue stretch 100 yards. However, the queue goes down very quickly as people generally eat there dinner and go. It is a very fast turnaround. This is not the same on a normal day of course. More of a modern P&M feel to it. Nevertheless serves great traditional food. Very reasonably priced.

Duncans Pie & Mash

365 Green Street, London, E13 9AR                                +44 (0)208 552 1288

Nearest Tube:                   Upton Park – Hammersmith & City (pink) and District (green) lines

Established:                        1971

Pie & Mash Club:              Highly recommended

Duncans is another establishment that is by West Ham United Football Club. It is very popular especially on match days. The same rule applies as to the turnover of customers as does BJ’s. Duncans is situated directly across the road from Upton Park. A typical Pie & Mash shop, you get a real feel of the east end. I also thoroughly recommend the desserts. Very reasonably priced

Cockney Pie & Mash

314 Portobello Road, London, W10 5RU                              +44 (0) 208 960 9409

Nearest Tube:                   Ladbroke Grove – Hammersmith & City (pink) line.

Established:                        1996

Pie & Mash Club:              Highly recommended

Although Pie & Mash may be thought of as a traditionally east London dish, that is not quite the case. Cockneys is typical of this being based in Portobello Road in the west part of London. Portobello Road being the home of the world famous Portobello Road market where you can by an amazing array of things. Cockneys has been highly rated by the Pie & Mash Club. Superb food. Cockneys has wheelchair access.

Clark Pie & Mash

46 Exmouth Street, London, EC1R 4QE                             +44 (0) 207 837 1974

Nearest Tube:                   Farringdon – Hammersmith & City (pink) Metropolitan (Maroon) Circle (yellow)

Established:                        1962

Pie & Mash Club:              Highly recommended

Clarks originally part of the Manzes chain which pre-dated the war years was taken over by its present owners in 1962. It is situated on the edge of the City district of London a 10 minute walk from Farringdon tube station. Clarks comes highly recommended by the Pie & Mash club.

The Pie & Mash Shop

171 East India Dock Road, London, E14 0EA                                +44 (0) 207 515 4553

Nearest Tube:                   All Saints – Docklands Light Railway (DLR)

Established:                        1988

Situated in the heart of the Docklands area The Pie & Mash shop serves up the traditional fare of Jellied eels, Pie, Mash and Liquor. The DLR can be accessed via Tower Hill (District & Circle line) or Bank (Central line) underground stations.

Robins Pie & Mash

105 High Street North, East Ham, London, E6 1HZ                                   +44 (0) 208 472 1956

Nearest Tube:                   District & Circle (green/yellow)lines.

Established:                        Not exactly known but definitely pre World War II

Robins has a number of branches in and around the area, mainly in Essex. They are in Wanstead, Ilford, Romford and Basildon. We could not find a date of establishment but it certainly was pre-war. There is a very warm welcome in Robins and you  get a real feeling of the East end. Great food.