Arsenal legend Ian Wright has given the thumbs up to a new pie shop selling pastries named after Gunners greats.
Ian has promised to pop into Piebury Corner, in Holloway Road, Holloway, to sample a menu that reads like an Arsenal supporter’s dream team.
The venture was recently opened by Nicky Campbell and her husband Paul, who started with a stall in their front garden in Gillespie Road, Highbury, selling pies to hungry fans heading for the Emirates Stadium.
Mr Campbell, 47, said: “Ian Wright asked us on Twitter why his pie [The Ian Wright] is made of lamb and mint. We said it was because he’s a ‘mint geezer’. But it turns out he doesn’t like lamb, so he said he’s going to come down for a Thierry Henry because it looks gorgeous.”
The Thierry Henry is filled with venison and red wine, while other pies include the Dennis Bergkamp, which Mr Campbell says contains chicken, because the Dutch forward famously did not fly.
The Campbells launched their Highbury stall two years ago because they felt there was a gap in the market for high quality grub outside the Emirates – and they were perfectly placed to fill it.
The pastries proved such a success that they were credited with lifting Arsenal to the top of the Football Pie League last year.
Now they have moved to the high street and by a quirk of fate find themselves in a shop stuffed with pie history.
Mr Campbell said: “We found all this signage for Williams Homemade Pie & Eel Shop, which closed in the 1980s. It was vacant when we took over and we had no idea it used to be a pie shop, it was pure luck. The shop has a lot of history.”
Mrs Campbell, 39, said: “It’s going really well and we’re very pleased. We don’t just sell the Arsenal pies, we also serve award-winning pies from around the country, so there’s something for everyone.
“We’re more of a pie delicatessen than a traditional pie shop and we’re hoping to appeal to foodies as well as fans.”
The shop is open Tuesday to Saturday and when Arsenal play at home, and all leftovers go to the Pilion Trust homeless charity, based in Horsell Road, Highbury.
She added: “Once the stand in our front garden started to kick off, we had a vision we could create a brand here.
“If the deli pays for itself, we will be looking to open a second on Highbury Corner.”
Ian Wright is not the only celebrity to show an interest. Spandau Ballet drummer and Arsenal fan John Keeble said: “Piebury Corner has firmly established itself as part of our pre-football routine because of the great food and great company.”
He added: “Tony Adams – once Arsenal’s greatest skipper and now the world’s greatest pie!”
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