Sadness over closure of pie-making business that catered for Sheffield weddings: ‘We didn’t have another choice’

Pie Eyed was set up by Jack Norman, from Rotherham, six years ago and had a busy calendar of events in 2020 – but when the coronavirus pandemic worsened, the firm’s main income stream was ‘wiped out’, he said.

"It's very sad,” he told The Star. “I don't think it'll really hit home until it's all done, because there's still so much to do in terms of closing a company and selling stuff.”

Pie Eyed – which until March had a permanent pitch at the Cutlery Works food hall in Neepsend – had 45 weddings booked in this year, and the same again for 2021.

“Obviously we've not done any of the weddings this year,” Jack said. “We have been doing deliveries, but by the time we'd bought all the boxes and paid for postage we were still losing money.

“We did have busy weeks – Father's Day was very popular. But the money was all ebbing away and we've had five cancellations for next year already.”

Matters came to a head when a decision had to be made on whether to sign another three-year lease on Pie Eyed’s industrial unit where its food is made.

“We needed to take out more loans and it all seems such a huge gamble. Imagine 100 people being in the same room next year – it feels a bit bonkers. We didn't really have another choice.”

Pie Eyed’s three staff were put on the Government’s furlough scheme when lockdown shuttered the hospitality industry, but the support on offer is changing.

“Luckily my partner did have a job so we did have one income,” he said. “I understand what they're doing with the new scheme, but it just doesn't necessarily work for us at all.

“There's almost a feeling of 'We might lose half the wedding and catering businesses but as soon as this is done loads of other people will start one'. It feels very blasé. It feels like it's not a priority.”

Jack once worked for Pizza Express but set up Pie Eyed when the popularity of street food started to spread and he spied a gap in the market. His menu ranged from beef brisket and ale to chestnut, mushroom and roasted squash pies, and he toured events in a distinctive horse box.

“We went all in on weddings and it was the year they were cancelled,” he said.

Joe Cawthorn, aged 29, from Rotherham, is marrying his partner Sarah at Kelham Island next year and had booked Pie Eyed to cater his wedding.

“Naturally we are upset,” said Joe.

“However, our thoughts first and foremost go to the owners and the employees affected by this terrible news and we hope they all pick themselves up quickly. They were great with the planning and lovely people, so we really hope they manage to get something sorted for themselves quickly.

“We don't know what's happening with our deposit yet, and it was a large deposit, so fingers crossed we can recoup as much of that as possible.”

Jack said he wouldn’t rule out reviving Pie Eyed when the pandemic has passed.

“I'm never going to say never,” he said.

Pies from the final batch are available for delivery here.

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