Portsmouth Pie club “pie-lot”: New men’s group off to a great start

A new men’s social group centred around making pies has launched in North End, with organisers hoping the idea could inspire similar groups across Portsmouth.

The pilot group, called Pompey Pies, is being run by Portsmouth City Council for an initial six-month period. The aim is for the men who attend to gradually take over the running of the group themselves so that it becomes community-led.

At the first session, a group of twelve men met for the first time, gathering around a table to watch Project Officer Will demonstrate how to make a pie. There was a mix of nervous excitement and laughter as the group discussed their favourite fillings – with steak and kidney emerging as the clear favourite.

There were also plenty of jokes, including the inevitable “the first rule of pie club is…” and lively debates about what could be turned into a pie. One suggestion even included a full English breakfast, topped with a hash brown as the lid.

The group then moved into the kitchen to make their own pies, choosing from fillings including corned beef hash, chicken and leek, cheese, and beans. A short while later, the men returned with their homemade creations, hot and ready to eat.

Ken, who attended the first session, said:

“I’ll eat any pie really, but steak and stilton is my favourite. I’m looking forward to making pies – it’ll keep me busy during certain parts of the day, and it gets you chatting and meeting different people.”

The idea for Pompey Pies came from Jayne Gentle, Community Development Officer in the council’s Independence and Wellbeing team.

Jayne said:

“I heard about a pie club up north – it was featured on The One Show with the Hairy Bikers – and I thought, why can’t we do this in Portsmouth?

I went into cafes, libraries and community centres and just put the idea out there. The response was really positive. From chatting to the gents today, a group where people just come and talk doesn’t always spark interest – but add pie into the mix and people want to get involved. After all, everyone loves a pie.

One of the great things about pie club is that you don’t need a full kitchen. As long as there’s somewhere to wash hands and do the washing up, all you need is plug sockets, pie-makers, people who want to come along and a few volunteers. This means it could work in lots of places – so the world, well, Portsmouth, is our oyster.”

The pilot sessions are being held at North End Baptist Church, which also hosts a food pantry helping households manage the rising cost of living.

Reverend Tracey Ansell, Minister of North End Baptist Church, said:

“It’s a huge privilege to be hosting the pie club. We’re keen to serve our community and support the council in what they’re trying to do. There’s a real link between the pie club and our food pantry, and if being based here helps support people in the community as well, then that’s lots of good things coming together for everyone.”

Cllr Matthew Winnington, Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing, Health & Care at Portsmouth City Council, said:

“We know loneliness can have a real impact on people’s health and wellbeing, but taking that first step to meet new people isn’t always easy. Projects like Pompey Pies give people a relaxed, friendly way to come together, learn something new and enjoy good company – with the added bonus of a homemade pie at the end.”

Anyone interested in joining a pie club, volunteering, or suggesting a venue can contact Portsmouth City Council’s Independence and Wellbeing Team.

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