City Centre
Snappy Runners
AJ Handley-Rowe -
16th June 2022
AJ Handley-Rowe -
16th June 2022 City Centre
Where to find the very best pies in Greater Manchester
Danny Jones
Ok, ok, we all know that Wigan is roundly considered the birthplace of the best pies in Greater Manchester, but other boroughs need good pies too, and we’re here to give them what they want.
As northerners, we appreciate a pie any time of the year (or day, for that matter), so we thought we’d do you all a solid and point you in the direction of some of the best pastry-encased treats in and around Greater Manchester.
From buttery puff pastry to dense shortcrust boys, flaky filo, suet crusts and more, here’s where you can find some of the best pies in Manchester city centre and beyond.
Don’t ask us to put them in order; it’s too hard.
Where are the best pie places in Greater Manchester?
1. Galloways – Wigan
Yes, we know we promised pies from other boroughs, but we’re still starting with a few Wigan gems. It had to be done.
ADVERTISEMENT
First founded in 1971 by Ronald and Patricia Galloway, Galloways Bakery is something of a local pie institution. With pie choices spanning butter and onion, chicken and mushroom, chunky steak, hot pot and minced steak, and prices from just £2.30, it’s as cheap as it is delicious.
A solid favourite of The Manc team, we’ll quite happily drive over to Wigan to visit Galloways for a meat and potato pie with gravy. To be honest, most of the time, it won’t even get home – we’ll just eat it lukewarm/cold in the car.
ADVERTISEMENT
2. Baldy’s – Wigan
Not an insult, that’s actually the name, we promise. Having recently shut up its Wigan shopfront, multi-award-winning pie shop Baldy’s is going through something of a change as it ventures into dark kitchen life. The pies, however, thankfully remain as epic as ever.
Favourites include ‘The Big Jim’ — a combination of 14-hour braised beef shin, bone marrow, confit onions and smashed pistachio crumb (My. Word.) — and ‘Triple Truffled Cheese’, packed with cave-aged cheddar, double Gloucester, parmesan, caramelised onions, truffle, black and white sesame crumb.
Baldy’s also serves up some pretty famous ‘Wigan kebabs‘, or at least their version of the regional delicacy. We’re talking bacon fat brioche with marrow fat mushy peas, buttered mash, crispy shallots and chives, plus Baldy’s signature gravy. Naughty.
3. Lord Of The Pies – Macclesfield
Moving swiftly from Wigan to Cheshire, the brilliantly named Lord of the Pies is up there with some of the region’s best – even if they are only delivery/catering nowadays.
Order fresh to your door or hot and ready for events, these award-winning pies come with helpings of mash and gravy, peas and plenty more. They might not strictly be in Greater Manchester anymore (RIP those lovely Chorlton and SK spots), but they still ship plenty around here from their HQ in Macc.
Choices include the likes of beef and stout, pork and black pudding, classic meat and potato; pulled chicken balti (this thing absolutely flies off the shelves), cheese and onion, chicken and mushroom and a very good vegan pie.
4. V. Goode Pies – Oxford Road Corridor
V. Goode by name, v good by nature. The lovechild of Winsome and local chefs Shaun Moffat and Sam Grainger, as well as being named after co-founder Tom Fastiggi’s grandmother, Valerie – a former dinner lady and certified ‘pie aficionado’ – they’ve not been in Manchester long, but they’re off to a great start.
Swapping the gourmet trapping for no-nonsense pies, mash and more in tin takeaways trays or plated up right then and there in the small Oxford Street shop, they feel well portioned, have a lovely lacquered finish and are pretty reasonably priced too.
Starting at around £6 for the perfectly filled pastry cases, their beef and Guinness pie collab with local Irish bar O’Connell’s was a ‘V’ popular item, but you’ve got all the staples on their full-time menu, too. However, special mention has to go to their breakfast pies, a.k.a. one of the best ways to start the day.
5. The Bay Horse Tavern – Northern Quarter
Nicknamed ‘Horsemoor’ when it reopened thanks to the new interior’s striking resemblance to the Deansgate steakhouse, classic British pub grub is the order of the day at The Bay Horse – pies included.
On the main menu here, you’ll find all the classics: steak and ale, cheese and onion, mushroom and leek, as well as a chicken, bacon and spring cabbage concoction that sounds delicious. All of these come served with a choice of mash or chips and lashings of gravy.
Did we mention on Mondays they do a pie and a pint deal for a tenner, or 50% off your total bill? We can’t think of many better ways to start the week.
6. Patel’s Pies
Ex-scaffolder Steve Patel worked in construction for 18 years before venturing into the food world with Vaso Kitchen. Quite the sea change.
ADVERTISEMENT
Then, in the midst of the pandemic, he decided to launch his own pie brand, combining traditional northern pie techniques with flavouring tips and tricks learnt from his Indian dad. The results are pretty incredible.
You can find Patel’s Pies at multiple sites across Greater Manchester, including A Taste of Honey and the Makers Market in West Didsbury, as well as The Butcher’s Quarter in the Northern Quarter.
7. Fraser’s Butchers
Pies might typically be the domain of bakers, but let’s not forget the contribution of butchers, too.
A long-standing Bolton favourite, this family-run butcher has won big at the British Pie Awards as well, taking home silver medals for a traditional pork pie as well as their unbelievable pork, turkey and stuffing pie called ‘The Huntsman’.
They also won a bronze award for their meat and potato pie, which sits on the menu alongside many others, such as the cheesy chicken and leek, ploughman’s, and the classic chicken and mushroom.
ADVERTISEMENT
8. Pieminister
On the shelves in your supermarkets and available as a sit-down scran in various spots around Manchester, Pieminister is, as the name suggests, all about proper pies.
Pies here come in every shape and form, including the healthier option of having one of their delicious filo options. There’s even a pie bottomless brunch, a.k.a. our idea of heaven.
Simply walk in, order the pie of your choice, and have it piled high with mash, Yorkie puds, carrot and swede mash, baby garlic and kale roasties, pigs in blankets, pork scratchings, heaps of gravy and more. Just perfect.
9. Great North Pie Co – North West
Winners and now judges at the Great British Pie Awards, multi-award-winning pie favourites Great North Pie Co specialise in classic flavours like Lancashire cheese and onion, roast chicken and mushroom, and 14-hour braised beef.
With a recently opened cafe at KAMPUS in Manchester city centre, head down for your fill of butter pies, suet puddings and what genuinely might end up being one of the best pie experiences you’ll ever have.
ADVERTISEMENT
In case you’re not fully convinced of just how much our office loves this place and must imbibe wherever they stumble across one of their venues, you can always read our review HERE.
10. Idle Hands – NQ
For some people, the best pie in Manchester is a sweet one, and if it’s a pastry-encrusted dessert you’re after, Idle Hands is up there with the absolute best in town. As you can see, there’s always a hearty selection on – with plenty of choices for vegans as well as veggies.
Think passionfruit cheesecake pie, rhubarb and blood orange pie, butterscotch meringue pie, malted milk brownie pie, key lime (we make silly noises whenever we eat this one), cookie dough, Earl Grey, Bakewell, and everyone’s favourite, the classic cherry pie.
Sit in and enjoy a slice at the NQ cafe or order a whole pie to your house. No judgement here, honest.
11. The Black Friar – Salford
As part of its recently relaunched pub grub menu, The Black Friar in Salford has a rotating menu of pie specials, and they’re all utterly decadent.
ADVERTISEMENT
This revamped old-school boozer boasts cosy settings and a selection of tall, hand-built, homemade pies, making it a must for Greater Manchester pie fans. Get ready for this: spinach and wild mushroom, duck and orange, lamb tagine pies and even a BONE-IN lamb shank pie.
Just ask your server for the daily special and know you’re not prepared for this level of deliciousness. Oh, and make sure to keep your eyes peeled for their annual pie festival, as it really is one of our favourite dates on the calendar.
12. The Horse and Jockey – Chorlton
Now, if we’re applauding Black Friar‘s pies, then we must also do the same with those being served at their other spiritual site over in Chorlton: the rejuvenated Horse and Jockey, which has been given a new lease of life by both Neil Burke and Ben Chaplin.
With a little help from regional brewery J.W. Lees as well, the already once-loved suburban pub has been given the TLC it needed to become a new thriving neighbourhood spot once again. The building is still gorgeous, and the food is better than ever – especially the pies.
Besides appearances on the specials board, their two main pies are the chicken, leek and pancetta one with greens and their super moorish ‘chicken liquor’, as well as their very impressive vegan offering: the sweet potato and butter bean pithivier (basically a lighter, posh French pie) with fire roast pepper sauce.
ADVERTISEMENT
13. H.M. Pasties Ltd – Oldham
Last but not least is H.M. Pasties, set up by former prisoner Lee Wakeham in 2018, which offers a lifeline to those in need of work experience after leaving prison. Using ingredients from local prison farms wherever possible, the bakery makes delicious Cornish pasties and pies.
H.M. scooped up four gongs at 2022’s British Pie Awards, winning the vegan category overall with their chickpea curry pasty and taking home a silver award for their legendary cheese and onion pie.
The bakery also scored two bronzes for their traditional Cornish pasty, as well as a creamy vegan leek and mushroom pie that is to die for. The story behind this place, which now serves people all across the region, alone makes it one of our favourites.
14. The Wharf – Castlefield
Our penultimate pick is another one just outside of the city centre, sitting pretty waterside along Manchester’s Bridgewater Canal, and serving some of the best pub grub in town, full stop – so it’s no surprise their pie game has always been very strong.
As well as having one of the best beer gardens in town, The Wharf does lots of things well: Sunday roasts, cocktails from their little hut outside come the summer, but above all else, pies. The first time we ever tried a chicken chorizo pie was right here, and we’ve never looked back.
ADVERTISEMENT
Best of all, since they’re renovations over Christmas 2025, they’ve come up with more flavours than ever; we’re just gutted it’s unlikely you’ll get to see all of them on the menu at the same time outside of British Pie Week.
15. Carrs Pasties – Bolton
Last but not least, we couldn’t wrap this pastry-packed list up tight and carefully crimp it closed without shouting out the one and only Carrs Pasties Ltd. Is there a case for splitting hairs between a pie and a pasty? Sure… Do we care? Not one bit.
The legendary Bolton-born brand has locations all over the borough, Greater Manchester, the North West and beyond (there’s even some in Yorkshire and the likes of Leicester), and this legendary native name’s reputation really does speak for itself.
You can find their name on shelves, available to order online, or in person at one of their MANY Carrs Pasties Shop sites. We’re not going to run you through everything they do, because they quite literally do it all – including plenty of pies – so if you haven’t initiated yourself by now, right that big Manc wrong.
Read more:
ADVERTISEMENT
- Hunting for Manchester’s best kebab with buses and a BIG lunch
- Inside the underground Manchester noodle bar serving Chinatown’s spiciest scrans
- The best places for breakfast and brunch in Manchester
For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.
Feature Image — The Manc Eats
City Centre
Manchester reveals FREE programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to mark International Women’s Day this weekend with a packed programme of free events.
In case you didn’t know, this Sunday (8 March) is International Women’s Day, with cities worldwide will be marking the important day in a series of different ways – and Manchester is no different.
Just as it chose to last year, the city has once again decided not to host its popular and once-annual ‘Walk For Women’ event, that used to see hundreds parade through the city centre in the name of equality, and instead organise a programme of events that both honour the importance of the event globally and this year’s theme.
Each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, whilst also marking a call-to-action for accelerating gender equality.
Join us on Saturday 7 March at Central Library to celebrate International Women’s Day. 💜
— Manchester City Council (@ManCityCouncil) February 23, 2026
Expect storytelling, performances, creative workshops, women’s history exhibitions, a keynote speech and more.
Book at: https://t.co/9AROxery5K #IWDMCR #IWD2026 #GiveToGain pic.twitter.com/wOGJNcnkym
This year in Manchester, Manchester City Council is encouraging everyone to join for a community celebration co‑designed by local women, offering a space to appreciate women’s contributions, meet new people committed to lifting each other up, learn something new, get creative, and ultimately, find inspiration for the future.
Some of the events organised throughout the day – which will all take place at Manchester Central Library the day before IWD 2026 on Saturday 7 March – include a storytelling activity for women to share their personal stories, a special spoken word piece performed by a member of the IWD Co-design group, choirs and poetry performances, and even fireside ‘chats’ among other things.
There’ll also be a range of different events designed especially for mums and children, like the ‘Mums Matter’ wellbeing workshops, offering time to focus on your emotional wellbeing and mental health, and children’s drop-in sessions.
You can also expect a selection of stalls by commissioned services and partner organisations promoting different services, and a period product donation point to tackle period poverty across Greater Manchester.
Everybody is invited to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester, not just women, and even children are able to attend some of the events too, as people of all ages are welcome.
Read more:
- Manchester’s biggest live yoga class with a string quartet playing calming music is back
- Local yoga teacher sets up a wholesome new support group for Manc mums
- Women can now get the ‘morning after pill’ free on the NHS at high street pharmacies
Manchester’s International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations are taking place throughout the day on Saturday 7 March, and you can find out more and book here.
Featured Image – Marko Milivojevic (via Pixnio)
More City Centre
Audio
Clint Boon takes us around Manchester's iconic Deaf Institute
Eats