Johnson's of Thirsk

Johnson's of Thirsk Award Winning Pork Pies

Butcher's pies are the best 

by the staff of the North Yorkshire Advertiser

A FAMILY butcher's company is celebrating after its pork pies were named the best in Yorkshire.

Johnson's Butchers of Market Place, Thirsk, won the accolade at the recent Great Yorkshire Pork Pie Competition in Bradford.

The contest, organised by the Yorkshire Federation of Butchers, is held annually and attracts hundreds of entries. It is the biggest regional competition in the country and judges include celebrity chef, Clarissa Dickson Wright.

The owner of Johnson's, Sarah-Jane Ballard, entered one pie and production manager Andrew Trueman entered another. Miss Ballard's was a finalist and was placed in the top ten, but it was Mr Trueman's that took the top honours. He said: "We entered last year but we didn't come anywhere so we were surprised to win. It was just the same recipe that we have always had. "The comments from the judges were that ours was perfectly baked. It was brilliant to win."

Johnson's was established in 1830 and now supplies businesses all over North Yorkshire with its goods.

From The Advertiser North Yorkshire November 2004

Thirsk butcher is upper crust!

A THIRSK butcher's has taken first prize in this year's Great Yorkshire Pork Pie Competition. Sarah Jane Ballard, who runs Johnson's Butcher's, which was founded by her father Ray, travelled to Bradford to beat off 280 other entries from butchers across the region. "We didn't use any special ingredients for the competition," said Sarah. "This is the same recipe which is used for pork pies sold in our shop every day." 

From Northallerton Today 26 November 2004

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