As fans of Big Mike's Artisan Cheesecakes know, the shop at Carlton Hill closed down on Christmas Eve after two-and-a-half years. Owner Mike Jones blamed the cost of everything 'going through the roof' and decided to ditch the overheads of the shop in favour of having stalls at events and supplying other businesses.
However, the shop won't be empty for long. In a few weeks' time, Project Pies will be opening there. It's a name already familiar to pie lovers since founder Dan Lione used the premises to sell his wares on a Monday during the summer when Big Mike's was closed.
The 41-year-old first started making pies as a sideline during lockdown at the weekend when he wasn't at his job in a butcher's shop. His work meant he knew exactly which cuts of meat to use. He advertised the pies for sale on Facebook and Instagram, starting off on a small scale.
