A few days ago, to play my part in celebrating British National Pie Week I revisited the Holborn Dining Room at the Rosewood London to visit their Pie Hole from which they sell freshly made pies. This was to be a happy return to one of London’s most reliable hotel brasseries though this time it was not for their excellent Sunday roast but in order to eat a pie.
This part of London, Holborn, has long been associated with pies, especially on nearby Fleet Street where in simpler times when all British food was brown Mrs Lovett’s pies reigned supreme for years – such happy days.
For the current generation of pie afficionados the Holborn Dining Room’s ‘Pie Hole’ has been a lunchtime destination for a couple of years. The restaurant has a dedicated pie room where the pies are made daily by a dedicated team of pie makers. The pies are also available on the a la carte menu in the restaurant for those who wish to dine in comfort, especially if you consider eating in the street to be the ultimate in bad manners on a par with reading WhatsApp messages in the cinema.
My choice for the day was the lamb and charred aubergine pie. It was served on a bed of diced mango, the crust was firm – there are no soggy bottoms here, the filling was densely packed, well-seasoned and retraining sufficient moisture without being unctuous. Altogether a well-balanced and satisfying pie, which I would happily eat again. Pies are a staple of British cuisine, though not all pies are equal, and the Pie Hole’s pies are superior to most. Where it sits in the hierarchy of pies is difficult to say, in my humble option the lobster pie at the Mount Street Restaurant sits above the them all as the King of Pies, however, there is no shame in being crowned the Queen of Pies. So why not stick one in your pie hole!
The Pie Room is also available for private hire providing a discreet and atmospheric private space for guests.
THE INFORMATION
The Pie Hole is open 11:30-15:00 Monday to Friday.
The Holborn Dining Room is open:
Breakfast: Monday to Saturday 07:00-11:00
Sunday 07:00-11:30
Lunch: Monday to Saturday 12:00-17:00
Sunday 12:30-17:00
Dinner: 17:00-22:00 daily
Address
252 High Holborn
London
WC1V 7EN
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 020 3747 8633