Maureen's Pie & Mash

"You get the feeling that many of Maureen’s regulars quietly dream of being adopted by the tough love gang of matriarchs who run this pie and mash shop. The self-described cockney food bar has been doling out quality pies and salt beef for over half a century on Chrisp Street Market, and first-time visitors can quickly gather why. The doorstop sandwiches are springy and meat-filled, while the pies have a genuine depth of flavour in their gravy. This mince isn’t bare, it’s bathing in sauce. And the luminous liquor (not too gloopy) has handfuls of parsley as well as a MasterChef-inspired touch of mint." - jake missing

"You get the feeling that many of Maureen’s regulars quietly dream of being adopted by the tough love gang of matriarchs who run this pie and mash shop. The self-described cockney food bar has been doling out quality pies and salt beef for over half a century on Chrisp Street Market, and first-time visitors can quickly gather why. The doorstop sandwiches are springy and meat-filled, while the pies have a genuine depth of flavour in their gravy. This mince isn’t bare, it’s bathing in sauce. While the luminous liquor (not too gloopy) has finely chopped handfuls of parsley and is so subtle that it wouldn't look out of place on MasterChef. Look around the white-tiled, caff-like space and you’ll see a mix of young and old, head down, spoon in hand. Just as it’s always been. photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch photo credit: Aleksandra Boruch" - Jake Missing

"‘Cockney food bar’ Maureen’s is one of London’s best remaining pie and mash shops, having traded from Chrisp Street Market for over 50 years. While so many belligerent pie shop owners refuse to move with the times, Maureen’s is one of the few to have launched a nationwide delivery service, set up by one of the shop’s customers. As a result, it’s now easy to order chilled minced beef pies with flaky pastry lids, mashed potato, vivid green liquor, and essential chilli vinegar in bulk. The move also makes perfect sense, considering so many pie and mash lovers have moved out to Kent and Essex." - Jonathan Hatchman

"Touted as a ‘cockney food bar,’ Maureen’s has been a staple of Chrisp Street Market for over 50 years. Originally operating from a site at the Commercial Road end of the market, the newer shop is clean and spacious but has less traditional interiors. The pie and mash served here is some of the best in London, nonetheless. At under £4, pies are well-browned and packed with beef soaked in thick gravy, mash is exceptionally smooth and the liquor has a dark green complexion, possibly embellished with a whisper of mint." - Jonathan Hatchman