THEWELLERNUT70 wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:20 pm

When I was a H&S rep for UNISON I was on a two week course with the Holland's equivalent, the stories he relayed to me have meant I've never touched a Hollands pie since sick

Well knowing the hollands reps and union people in general I wouldn't listen to much. Ive been in 100s of food plants and Hollands is one of the best ive seen.

Venkys4eva wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:35 pm

Well knowing the hollands reps and union people in general I wouldn't listen to much. Ive been in 100s of food plants and Hollands is one of the best ive seen.

Quite right. They had an awful reputation, but really cleaned up their act under Northern Foods, not sure who has it now.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:42 pm

Quite right. They had an awful reputation, but really cleaned up their act under Northern Foods, not sure who has it now.

Northern was excellent to work for but they got bought out by 2 sisters food group and they are the current owners.

jackmiggins wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:54 pm

Looking for pastry girth, contents, attacking ability and possible 'sell on' value.

Not surprised that Mrs Miggins' lad is somewhat of a pie connoisseur!

P.S. I'm not calling your Mum fat - just a Blackadder reference is all.

AlargeClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:00 pm

Hollands are an “ above average pie” mass produced , cheaper than Haffners /Pukka etc. Their pies are a mass market made on a budget ,and for that they’re very decent . If they upped the quality 30% they’d be in the prime end of the market, which isn’t their target .

Haffners are good fresh bakery pies but for fans as tight as Burnleys ( who constantly moan at the prices , the beer and the fayre on offer ) doesn’t seem a likely move .

Spot on

Surprised no one has suggested Clayton Park Pies, Clayton-le-moors based; nice quality and large scale bakery.

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:03 pm

Surprised no one has suggested Clayton Park Pies, Clayton-le-moors based; nice quality and large scale bakery.

Thats owned by james hall now (spar) i dont think they can compete with Hollands on price.

How on earth do they make them so hot on the Turf? Burn my mouth every time

As a paid up member of the sh*t and bust club I think signing up a more expensive pie will be the end of the club.

I was thinking of qualifying that statement with "probably be the end of the club" but then consulted the rules of the sh*t or bust club and article 4 of the SoBC rules clearly state and I quote- "sh*t or bust precludes words that do not suggest immediate impending doom"!

So, I amended accordingly.

What they should do is have different brands to create competition, then you’ll notice the quality of the pies go up.
The cream will rise to the top

If the price was based on size and volume, then Haffners would be out of the reach of the average man on the concourse

Venkys4eva wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:06 pm

Thats owned by james hall now (spar) i dont think they can compete with Hollands on price.

Probably not. Only realised posting on this thread, as a former SnowKing buyer, that I still keep my eye on what is on offer on the forecourts etc. 20 years later

elwaclaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:19 pm

Probably not. Only realised posting on this thread, as a former SnowKing buyer, that I still keep my eye on what is on offer on the forecourts etc. 20 years later

Funny isn't it, ive not worked for northern foods for quite a few years now but im the same. I always notice packaging changes etc I even find myself reading ingredient decs in asda thinking 'ah thats new' lol.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:20 pm

Clayton Park was the firm, and yes, they were very good.
They're still going, and available in Morrison's, among other places. Don't know why we got shut.

Cissy Greens are good as well.

I like Cissy Greens.

Also Pie minister

I used to watch at the cattle auctions at Helmshore and see the Northern Foods rep buying up all the completely knackered worn-out old dairy screws..some of them so clapped out they were already half dead.

A day later they'd be slaughtered and turned into globs slop to be dropped into Holland meat pies.

I know my way round a good pie, and it's not Holland or that Pukka muck.

Haffners can produce a half decent commercial pie, but they're so far behind my mum it's unreal.

Used to be a brilliant homemade pie and steak pudding shop on Lyndhurst rd ( close to junction with Tod road ). Loved he steak puds. He used to part cook the chips to save time when it was busy then fry em again to crisp em up. No idea what it was called. Certainly there in sixties

boatshed bill wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 5:35 pm

I like Cissy Greens.

I don't mind them, but I much prefer D T Law's, especially with their mushy peas.

Silkyskills1 wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:29 pm

Worked at Hollands as a student in the early 70's and loved it. They paid extremely well especially if overtime on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings were included. Managed to travel back down to London on the train a couple of times as a result.

Hi Silky, snap. I had summer jobs there in '72 and '73. When were you there?

Saturday afternoon was always good overtime with the delivery vans coming back from their rounds and putting the wooden trays through the steam cleaner. I recall the occasional extra delivery to one or two of the Lancs League cricket grounds when they had a big match on.

I've still got muscle memory from spending hours continuously picking up 4 balls of dough, 2 in each hand, and placing them in the 4 trays, no stopping the machine allowed and if you were a bit slow the dough ended up on the floor.

Having worked there, would I eat a Hollands pie? I've lived away from Lancs for over 30 years, so no idea what they are like now. I know I stopped eating them for a few weeks after first working there, then I thought they are giving pies to the staff for free. "What doesn't kill you makes you tough" as the saying goes.

A friend of my Mum got me the summer job. She worked there for years. A big Burnley fan. When she passed away, in her 80s by then, I remember she was buried wearing her Burnley scarf.

EDIT: I should add, past few years I've learnt I need to be gluten free, so need to stay away from pies made with wheat flour.

Haffners pies for me any day of the week. There are a couple of shops around Turf Moor which sell them, and they don't cost a fortune. Their meat and potato pie is delicious.

I havent tried Hafners. Holland I absolutely love the meat and potato pies, provided they are not so hot they blister the roof of your mouth .

I have a friend that has a box at Hafners, and he said their pies are definitely better than Hollands!

Get cissy greens meat pies in that would be transformational..

Goalposts wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 9:05 pm

Get cissy greens meat pies in that would be transformational..

Not a hope in hell have you seen the bakery?
Great pies but it’s done in the back of the shop. From time to time they come under fire for some new rule or other, but it’s pretty much as when Cissy Green had it. That’s what makes them exceptional; they’re as good as they ever were, bacuse they are made the way they always were.

I'll raise both Haffners and Hollands to Edwards on Padiham Road, the array of Pork pies are exceptional as are the Steak and black pepper.

The chicken and ham pies are absolutely rammed with chunky meat.

Definitely worth a Saturday morning visit for a few samples.

Can highly recommend Beeches butchers in barrowford, I’ve not found a better pie or sausage roll.

Just wish I could keep it warm till half time.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 3:20 pm

Clayton Park was the firm, and yes, they were very good.
They're still going, and available in Morrison's, among other places. Don't know why we got shut.

Cissy Greens are good as well.

From memory this was around 2008. As part of the tender process, BFC held a pie tasting session in the centre spot. About 10 different companies provided free pies and you could vote for each one. Clayton Park won. It was a very enjoyable evening!

There's a few pie makers around Burnley, including Oddies, Hollands and my favourite, Haffners.
They might be a bit more expensive than Hollands which are mass produced and you can pick up in any supermarket but Haffners have the edge I think on taste and quality.
If you've not bought them fresh from the bakery on Marlborough Street (top Manchester Road near the roundabout) you're missing a treat. Take a box si the gravy doesn't spill out. The smell alone is worth the trip.

Hollands and Pies shouldn't feature in the same sentence.

Duffer_ wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 4:56 pm

Not surprised that Mrs Miggins' lad is somewhat of a pie connoisseur!

P.S. I'm not calling your Mum fat - just a Blackadder reference is all.

LOL No problem-Mum was from Athens and was actually a beauty and my favourite pie is my wife’s Meat and Potato or a Greek Tiropitta. As a Yorkie, I bow to the inherent pie knowledge of the Lanky lads.

mikeS wrote: ↑

Thu Jun 30, 2022 8:31 am

There's a few pie makers around Burnley, including Oddies, Hollands and my favourite, Haffners.
They might be a bit more expensive than Hollands which are mass produced and you can pick up in any supermarket but Haffners have the edge I think on taste and quality.
If you've not bought them fresh from the bakery on Marlborough Street (top Manchester Road near the roundabout) you're missing a treat. Take a box si the gravy doesn't spill out. The smell alone is worth the trip.

My Godmother’s husband was an Oddie - used to make footballs, had the thickest lenses in his specs and still had to feel my face with his fingers to know who I was. Incidentally, also had massive finger ends from years of threading leather.

When I come over to the matches I park on Lyndhurst Road and make my way across to Brunshaw Road via Lebanon Street. There's an off licence shop right across and they used to sell bloody marvellous meat and potato pies .It changed hands and the new owner doesn't sell pies anymore...don't know who baked them but they were loads better than the ones sold in the ground . Often used to buy a couple to take home .Anyone help with the maker and where I can buy them ?

SouthLondonexile wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 7:06 pm

I havent tried Hafners. Holland I absolutely love the meat and potato pies, provided they are not so hot they blister the roof of your mouth .

Have you ever found any meat in them?

Vino blanco wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 2:09 pm

Holland’s pies are now just full of tasteless mush, their meat pies are edible and their puddings are quite tasty. Mrs Vino and I sometimes have their meat pies or puddings with mushy peas for dinner, it’s a nice taste of home.
However to compare them with Haffners is nonsense. Fortunately, we have a local English baker over here called Porky Pies, who make all homemade pies and cakes etc. Their wares are very good indeed.

I think they featured on Bargain Loving Brits In The Sun (my guilty pleasure on channel 5!).

Massively overrated...

I struggle to find any meat in the potato and meat pie and it's like a pigs-swill that has been sewn into a wooden clog and then cooked for 10 minutes at the highest temp possible to make the crust inedible and as hard as a builders helmet, with the rest of the pastry as limp as a dishcloth!

Has anyone tried the Cissy Green Meat Pie... To die for!

http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/Cissy_Green_Pie.htm

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:13 am

Has anyone tried the Cissy Green Meat Pie... To die for!

http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/Cissy_Green_Pie.htm

Absolutely. Lived in Haslingden when I was a young boy and the shop was just a short walk away.

Tricky Trevor wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:39 pm

Sorry enclosure but I’m a Hollands man. Never had a Haffners so can’t compare but to call Hollands average is just wrong.

Hollands are probably decent amongst the average pie population but burnt to a crisp and dried out on the Turf theyre not that good.

Haffner do though make Hollands seem average

claret2018 wrote: ↑

Wed Jun 29, 2022 1:49 pm

Holland’s over haffners any day of the week

Unbelievable Jeff!

Buy local, none of that Dutch rubbish

Sometimes (not always) when you get a pie on the Turf, it's either a bit cold in the middle, or
you bite into it, and something similar to molten lava flows out and strips the flesh from your tongue.

Still, it's exciting wondering which you're going to get.

Haffners wins against Hollands every time, the best pies around are Haffners.

ElectroClaret wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 11:10 pm

Sometimes (not always) when you get a pie on the Turf, it's either a bit cold in the middle, or
you bite into it, and something similar to molten lava flows out and strips the flesh from your tongue.

Still, it's exciting wondering which you're going to get.

As Paul Waine might say - Exciting Pies!

Like Paul Waine and SilkySkills, I too worked at Hollands as a student job and also for about 9 months after uni. I spent most of the time making pie lids . Definitely not exciting times!!

BigChaCha wrote: ↑

Fri Jul 01, 2022 10:13 am

Has anyone tried the Cissy Green Meat Pie... To die for!

http://www.foodsofengland.co.uk/Cissy_Green_Pie.htm

The Pies have it, the Pies have it.

Late 1950's my dad used to get Howard and Halstead meat pies from Rawtenstall market just before we got the bus to the Turf. Gorgeous pies, don't know whether they still exist these days.

ClaretCliff wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 02, 2022 8:31 am

Like Paul Waine and SilkySkills, I too worked at Hollands as a student job and also for about 9 months after uni. I spent most of the time making pie lids . Definitely not exciting times!!

I remember working as a 'lidder'. Catching the prepared lids coming off a conveyor belt onto the pies. Very technical and routinous until boredom led to a mistake upsetting the Italian godfather in charge of the room. A 'stand off' ensued but that dumb expression that students 'owned' invariably won the day and 'lidding' once more became the priority.
Claret Cliff, I worked there 70, 71 and 72. Were you there any of those years?

I worked there for all those years, 10 weeks at a time. Armando was the mad italian I think and there was also a small guy, Ian, worked in the living room or Slab as it was called. Favourite trick was to band down on the safety bar on the lid cutter which stopped the machine. Caused Armando to go mad but gave us a smoke-break whilst it was sorted
I think you said you went to BRGS whilst I went to Hassy Grammar. You also said you lived near Cissy Greens. I did too, Dale Street up by the Savoy. We may well know each other, or at least know of each other, but I don’t know who you are.

Ha, for living room read lidding room. Damn predictive text!

ClaretCliff wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 02, 2022 1:11 pm

I worked there for all those years, 10 weeks at a time. Armando was the mad italian I think and there was also a small guy, Ian, worked in the living room or Slab as it was called. Favourite trick was to band down on the safety bar on the lid cutter which stopped the machine. Caused Armando to go mad but gave us a smoke-break whilst it was sorted
I think you said you went to BRGS whilst I went to Hassy Grammar. You also said you lived near Cissy Greens. I did too, Dale Street up by the Savoy. We may well know each other, or at least know of each other, but I don’t know who you are.

Didn't go to BRGS. My first time at Hollands was in the summer of 1970 with Ken Dickinson in charge of us. There were a few lads from Hassy Grammar there, remember a lad called Roger?. I'd been at school in Salford for the previous seven years? (long story) but Haslingden and Piccadilly St. were my home. Good friends with Chris Chaplow John Wardle( wag). and Bob? .Obviously know Dale St, near Salisbury St. but none the wiser who you are.

Sorry Silky, got the school wrong. Knew you didn’t go to HGS.
I guess the Roger you remember was Roger Hoyle, lived in Rawtenstall but went to HGS. Is the Bob you mention Bob Alderson? He went to HGS and worked at Hollands. I used to go to Burnley matches with Bob and still see him, and Roger, occasionally.
I know Chris Chaplow and I think I remember John Wardle. I do remember one lad from Piccadilly st. Are you JS?

I’ve never had a Haffner’s despite being born in Burnley (albeit raised in Tod). Is this something I need to remedy this coming season?