A local gluten-free bakery has snatched victory at the 2024 British Pie Awards.

Kavanagh's Tea Room is a popular gluten free bakery and tea room based in Rutland's county town of Oakham.

Already winners to local people, who are passionate about the huge range of goods offered by the equally passionate team, the business has come up trumps and won the 'Free From' class at the prestigious British Pie Awards.

Kavanagh's entered two of their popular pies, but said that they were "under no elusions of being shortlisted", so this win has taken the team - and the supportive county town of Oakham - by storm!

Clare Kavenagh, business owner and gluten-free master, said: "I can't believe it!

"Having nearly 1,000 pies enter into the British Pie Awards, we honestly were under no elusions of being shortlisted let alone winning!

"We're so grateful for this amazing accolade of 'Best Free From Pie in Britain' with our savoury Pie, 'The Italian Job'."

'The Italian Job' is Kavanagh's take on Melanzane Parmigiana in beautiful, buttery puff pastry - and it won the hearts of the judges at the awards.

The team also entered the 'Rhuberry Créme Pie' in the Desserts category. Filled with a generous layer of créme, strawberries and rhubarb, it might not have been a winner for the judges this time, but it remains a firm favourite with locals.

'The Italian Job'. Image credit: Kavanagh's Tea Rooms.

Clare and Martin have been running Kavanagh's for the past eight years following Clare's diagnosis as a celiac - but only just started making Gluten Free Pies three weeks ago, making this win even more of a triumph for the elated team.

They said: "Although we know the locals love them, it's nice to get recognition from a National Awards event for the quality they produce."

The British Pie Awards, now in its 16th year, brings in entries from across the country and from bakers, butchers, pubs, sports clubs, fish and chip shops amongst other pie makers, judged by a team of 140 judges.

Dr Matthew O'Callaghan Chairman of the British Pie Awards added: "I'm so pleased that Kavanagh's are amongst the Award Winners. The judges were very complimentary about the pie which is why it won an Award."

The team are over the moon to have won. Image credit: Kavanagh's Tea Room.

Clare continued: "Someone pinch me!

"I feel so honoured that we can really give 'Free From' Pies a centre stage to celebrate."

She also shared a nail-biting story from the morning of the awards that the team are "only just laughing at".

She explained: "One story that we feel we can now laugh about is that on the morning of the delivery to the awards- one of the staff (cough, Martyn) dropped the entire collection of pies! I think we all wanted to cry, but thankfully we had just enough time to bake a fresh batch and have them cool just in time for delivery... phew!"

The team continued by offering "a huge shout out to everyone in our category, from Paul and Laura from Phat Pasty Co and Mad K Pies, to the brilliant Sponsor of the Free From category John from The Pastry Room."

Congratulations to the team at Kavanagh's Tea Room, who can be found at:

Victoria Hall

Oakham

Rutland

LE15 6AH

You can get Kavanagh's pies, bakes and more online.