The Pie Campaign of 2007
In the 1960’s you could buy a 3 course lunch in the bar for 2 shillings (20P) and even up to the early 2000’s it was still only £3.00 for soup, pie and chips, and a home made rice pudding with peaches.
You could only sit on one of the bar stools between the two bar serving gaps at the rear of the bar if you were having a meal – If not, then Mary or Violet would soon tell you how and where to move !! –
Then along came the brewery management of Mitchell and Butler and the meals moved to the upstairs lounge.
But at least at the bar, you could still have a famous McGhees Horse Shoe pie, with beans or mushy marrowfat peas.
Then….
In 2007, the owners of the Horse Shoe, Mitchells & Butlers, attempted to change the age old tradition of a pie and a pint, by introducing a standard pub menu and doing away with the pies.
Little did they realise how out of touch they were with the Horse Shoe regulars.
There were so many complaints, that this website was created for the purpose of finding out by petition, exactly what the public thought of this traditional lunch being withdrawn.
Our web site petition raised 65,000 viewers from all over the world in the space of a week, and the petition resulted with 90% in favour of the return of the humble pie.
It was big news in Glasgow with national and local television and newspaper coverage.
Eventually after presenting the world-wide and celebrity support, Mitchells & Butlers reversed their decision and the pies were back on.
…but ..
2014 – Saw the change unfortunately to the ‘Famous Horse Shoe Pies’ supplied by the local bakery of McGhees being replaced by pies, supplied frozen, through a multi-national supplier due to supposedly consolidation of suppliers and an EU regulation on Food Information for Consumers – Regulation (EU) No. 1169/2011.
Regulars noticed immediately the change in taste, (and the fluorescent green peas !!) however Mitchells & Butlers made no attempt to appease public opinion on either the pies or the removal of home-made dishes from their popular 3 course menu.
Contact was made with Alistair Darby, Chief Executive of Mitchells & Butlers (left M&B 2015) as well as Jayne Baker, Retail Director (left M&B in 2015) and Rob Pitcher the Brand Operations Director (left M&B in 2018).
Sadly, nothing could change the intransigent attitude of Mitchells & Butlers who went ahead with new pies and advised us that McGhees Bakers “Did not come up to the necessary A Standard qualification as required by Mitchells & Butlers under the EU Regulation”, this despite the fact that they never contacted McGhees who naturally do have full A Standard EU Food Regulations Accreditation.
A total insult to one of the most highly respected and professional bakers in Scotland.
Since then, there has been a continuation of the frozen pies which were not popular with regulars but who’s views are still being ignored for a change back to a proper fresh McGhees pie.