Steak & ale pies

This pie is a real pub classic. If you want to eat it like they do in the pub, then serve it with steamed peas, carrots and thick-cut chips. You can also make these pies with left-over stew – just halve the recipe for the dough if necessary. The variation with Stilton cheese is another example of a classic British pie and if you want to go Victorian style, add a couple of raw oysters to the stew. This used to be the custom to make the meat stretch further when oysters were poor people’s foo