The Empieor is a Pie Company that are currently set up as a side menu at Basic Kneeds in The Market Place in Bolton, a cafe/restaurant that serves the many shoppers.

Opened in 1988, the shopping centre is built within the original Bolton Market Place that dates back to 1855 and was said to be the largest covered market in the kingdom.

The Pies of Empieor are all handmade and served as part of the Lunch Menu within Basic Kneeds from 12 noon onwards, however plans are afoot to make them available to order online here, so I headed down to see what they are all about.

I arrived while the Brunch Menu was still being served and the restaurant was already packed out with diners enjoying a range of dishes from Crispy Bacon to what looked like perfectly cooked scrambled eggs, views of these started to get my tastebuds preparing for what was to come.

The Pies cost £6 each (Or £9 including a beer) and come in four varieties including:-

The Beef:- Beer Braised Beef with Bury Black Pudding which has been slowly cooked.

Hot Pot Pie:- A Slow Roast Lamb hot pot with Potato and Thyme Topper

Spring Cheese:- A Vegetarian 3 Cheese and Spring Onion Pie

Shroom Boom:- A Vegan option made with a blend of Spinach and Mushrooms.

I have to say that The Beef first shouted out to me with its rich sounding Gravy and Bury Black Pudding, however I am advised that the servers favourite is the Spring Cheese (As she doesn’t eat meat) and that many of the others love the Hot Pot Pie, so my decision was swayed.

Pies can come either with a side of Mash or with Hand Cut Chunky Chips, but in my world there is only one option – Pie and Mash all the way.

First up is the Hot Pot Pie, Tender Pieces of Lamb are mixed with vegetables and a tasty gravy, the meat being just as it should be, falling apart.

Topped off with little crispy potatoes, this is like a home cooked meal in a pie base.

The side helping of Mash creamy yet rustic with a subtle flavour of chives, it works great covered in the the gravy which is thick and full of flavour.

Next up is the Spring Cheese. Thin and Crispy Pastry top opens up to a creamy filling, not overly overpowering, but sweet and tasty. I can see why this is a favourite.

Lots of filling that is perfectly seasoned and coupled up with a great pastry, this is a real winner and definitely one of the better pies that I’ve tried, it needs nothing added.

Both the pies that I tried at Empieor get the thumbs up from me, and I really do love a pie (I used to live in Australia where Pie’s were pretty much my stable diet)

Following on from my feed I decided to do a bit of shopping while at the Market Place, with free parking for an hour or just £1 for upto 2.5 Hrs, this shopping centre just a 20 min drive outside of Manchester was actually a great alternative to the Trafford Centre that I do everything to avoid on a weekend.

So if your in the area, or want to try out these amazing pies via your own order, I would highly recommend you give them a go.

You can also check out Empieor on Twitter here

Disclaimer

I was invited down to try out the pies at Empieor, however the review including all thought and opinions are impartial and my own.