Hoghton Tower Farmers' Market and Shirley's Pies

For my first post, I am going to tell you about the delights of Hoghton Tower Farmers' Market.

As I previously stated, this blog is my mission to find the best places for great food and the wares available at Hoghton certainly tick that box.

On the third Sunday of every month, the market rolls up the long driveway of Hoghton Tower and offers some of the best local produce there is to buy.  The location is inspiring, set right in front of the historical Hoghton Tower where numerous kings and queens have stayed the night and both Shakespeare and Dickens are said to have visited.

This is no ordinary market.  

A visit conjours up thoughts of King James I knighting the famous loin of beef in the Great Hall (said to have given rise to Sirloin Steak) and then trotting on his pony through the bedrooms.

However, it is not only the setting that is memorable.  Each stall offers a different delights from fresh fruit and vegetables, local beer and cider, home made chutney and cheese, and fresh meat all produced within the region.  

Last Sunday Hannah (the Wife) and I headed out to Hoghton in bright sunshine and treated ourselves to some pies from the Shirley's Pies  stall.  Usually we get the 'Number 4' which has beef steak and bacon in red wine but they had sold out so we went for the 'Number 3' cheese and onion pies.

Back home I bunged them in the oven for 30 minutes for Sunday lunch and out they come, golden brown and melted in the middle. These are monster premium pies and at only £3 each we had a gourmet meal at home with very little effort.

Shirley also does massive home made treats such as this industrial sized caramel slice:

The perfect meal and locally produced too...thanks Shirley!