Arsenal Footballer Ian Wright Invests in Hackney’s Willy’s Pies | Eater London

"A Hackney-born, lockdown-era shortcrust savoury pie company founded by chefs Will Lewis and Josh Hill, it grew from bike-delivered pies from Lewis’s home in 2020 into a wholesale operation and—following an investment by Ian Wright—its first proper food stall inside Netil Market. The menu centers on classic shortcrust pies such as steak and ale; chicken, ham, leek, and cider; mince and cheddar; and asparagus, ricotta, and broad bean, with the new stall offering them served with mash, gravy, and peas. Brash and confident in its branding (notably all-caps Instagram captions), the mono-product business reflects Lewis’s aim of doing one thing well; the founders have links to established restaurants (Lewis worked at St John and Brat). The brand has also secured football-related partnerships, including with Leyton Orient and as the official pie sponsor for Watford F.C., and Wright’s public involvement and investment are expected to boost both growth and national profile." - Adam Coghlan