They say that you can’t keep a good thing down, and I’m about to describe a prime example; but first, let me set the scene…
A few years ago, when Daddy Bird was still with us, he, myself, The Man and Mummy went to The Bull Shed at Handley Farm, Shottle, to see what the fuss was all about around The Grumpy Farmer’s ‘Pie Night’. To cut a long story short, the pies were ruddy fabulous; tasty and moreish, filling and accompanied by plenty of veg, chips and gravy. Ever since then, we’ve been planning to return but then Covid came along and life overtook the farm team and they decided to just open The Bull Shed on Friday and Saturday nights for Pizza and Steak, so we never got to sample more pies.
More recently, His Nibs, and I took Fledge and The Beau to ‘Steak Night’’, and the food was equally delicious – but you can’t beat a proper, honest Pie on colder evenings, so we were praying that the food gods would hear our plea and persuade The Grumpy Farmer (Tony) to bring back the pie. Whaddya know, my wish came true!
As soon as I saw the post on Facebook that Pie Night was to return, triumphant, I got His Nibs to book us a couple of places on the second sitting: 7pm; the first sitting is at 5pm, and there is a child-meal option at this sitting of Sausage and Mash. Now, before you all get too excited, I need to say that Pie Night version 2.0 is slightly different; instead of being weekly, this time around it is only happening on the second Thursday of each month. You do still need to pre-order your food choices, and as well as the child option of Sausage and Mash (which is also the Gluten free offering for those that need it), there is Cheese and Onion Slice (for vegetarians), Steak Pie, or Beef and Onion Pie.
Obviously, the food was all smashing and Tony was on *fine form*, i.e. tormenting the ladies who serve us all with drinks etc. One of these days, methinks El Senor Grumpy Farmer might just get a death-stare from his ‘serving wenches’!!! The equally best bit about Pie Night (other than the stars of the show, the Pies themselves!) is that all monies raised on these evenings goes to support the Handley Care Farm CIC, a totally cracking enterprise that enables children and adults with special educational needs to enjoy goat- and garden- therapy at the farm.
If you want to find out more about this marvellous, and very much needed, scheme visit www.handleyfarm.org.uk. One very important thing to say - and it is such an easy thing for us all to do – is that you can support the Handley Care Farm CIC for free whenever you shop online with ‘easyfundraising’. Please do bear this in mind, as every bit of support makes a huge difference to these guys; thank you.
To book a slot at one of the pie nights and to get more info on what you can expect, visit www.handleyfarm.org.uk/pie-night-returns/ Don’t forget about that last forward slash, it’s not a typo!!!
Never have I been happier to say that Hot Wings are awarded here, than I am right now!! The Man and I have already booked for the Pie Night on Thursday October 12th 2024!
