Clark's Pies facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Founded | 1909 |
| Founder | Mary Clark |
| Headquarters |
,
England
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| Products | Pies |
Clark's Pies are famous meat pies. People sometimes call them "Clarkies" or "Clarksies." These tasty pies started in Cardiff, Wales. Now, you can find them in Bristol, England, and other parts of South Wales.
Contents
History of Clark's Pies
How It All Started
The Clark's Pies business began in 1909. Mary Clark was the person who created these pies. Her first shop opened in 1913 on Llanmaes Street in Roath, Cardiff. Later, in the 1930s, a second shop opened in Canton.
During World War II, the first shop had to close. This was because there wasn't enough meat due to wartime rationing. Rationing meant people could only buy a small amount of certain foods.
Growing the Business
Mary Clark's grandson, Dennis Dutch, opened a third pie shop and bakery. This happened on May 10, 1955, in Bromsgrove Street, Grangetown. In 2005, Dennis celebrated the shop's 50th birthday!
Later, the Clark family sold their Clark's Pies business in Cardiff to another bakery. This ended their direct connection with the Cardiff pies.
Clark's Pies in Bristol
In the 1920s, Mary Clark's son, Percy Clark, started his own pie business. He opened a shop in North Street, Bedminster, Bristol. Percy's sons, John, Ken, and Roger Clark, later took over the shop.
Today, Keith Prested owns Clark's Pies Ltd in Bristol. Roger's daughter, Dawn Clark, is also a director. This means the family tradition continues! The Bristol shop is still at 259 North Street, Ashton Gate, Bristol. It has been making pies and pasties since the 1930s.
The Secret Recipe
The exact recipe for the pie filling is a big secret! It contains beef, vegetables, and gravy.
What makes these pies special is their thick pastry. It's so thick that you don't need a foil tray to hold the pie. Also, each pie has the word "CLARPIE" stamped right into the pastry.
How to Enjoy a Clark's Pie
You don't need knives or forks to eat a Clark's Pie. The pastry is strong enough to hold the pie in your hand. This means you can eat it without it falling apart or getting soggy.
However, if you heat the pie in a microwave, the pastry might become soft. This makes it harder to eat without a fork.
The Clark's Tash
Sometimes, when you eat a hot Clark's Pie, the filling can touch your upper lip. This can feel a bit hot! People have a funny nickname for this: a Clark's Tash.
Famous Quotes About Clark's Pies
Many people love Clark's Pies, including some famous faces!
- Frank Hennessy, a well-known radio presenter, once said: I can't remember not having a Clark's Pie. As soon as Cardiffians saw the Millennium Stadium they fell in love with it. They didn't realise why. It's like a giant Clark's pie with four cocktail sticks in it.
- Ian Holloway, a former football player and manager, mistakenly thought the pie was from Bristol. He said: There's some great things that have come out of Bristol – Clark's pies, a couple of football teams.... not sure about me, though!
Images for kids
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The Clark's Pies shop in Bromsgrove Street
See also
In Spanish: Clark's Pies para niños
