Yesterday we took the tube to The Tower of London and were there when it opened at 9am. The plan was to visit the tower and then slowly make our way back walking through a few different neighborhoods in London.
Our planned lunch stop was M. Manze, the oldest pie and mash shop in London. And boy, was it a treat!
Michele Manze opened the first M. Manze Pie and Mash at 87 Tower Bridge Road in 1902 {the location we visited} and is still going strong 4 generations later.
The menu is simple; pie {beef mince}, mash {mashed potatoes}, liquor {gravy} and jellied eels. Spoiler alert – We did NOT try the eels. 😉
Pie and mash was simply a poor man’s meal meant to do one thing, fill you up. The pie is as basic as you can get; a thick crust, beef mince {think Taco Bell beef texture} a wee bit of gravy and that’s it.
The pies are cooked in the oven below and brought up in a dumb waiter on the side of the wall where the ladies behind the counter then take the tray and place it on the counter.
You walk up, tell them your order {we each ordered 1 pie, mash and liquor} and they plate it up.
It’s all gloriously simple and fun to watch.
And now I want to open a pie and mash shop!!!
Did I mention we were eating in the original 1902 shop?
Inside the pie.
The seats and tables {and anything that could be} were bolted down to the floor. Apparently the shop is located in what used to be a rough part of town and so precautions were taken according to the ladies behind the counter.
Another fun fact: Back in the day you could catch your own eels from the river and bring them to the counter and they would cook them for you.
The pies are baked in the traditional stone oven below and then brought up in the dumbbell waiter. I LOVE stuff like this!
There is so much history in this place, I’m so glad we went and were able to experience a real pie and mash shop.
You see these types of places portrayed in old shows and movies, but to be able to go in and talk to the people working there and really soak it up is something else entirely.
M. Manze Pie and Mash. If you’re ever in London, go check it out! You’ll be so glad you did.
~Mavis
Jess says
I love learning history through your travels!
Question- the gravy.. what *flavor* was it? Lighter gravies have me thinking chickenbase.. Looks like lots of parsley? Stay safe!
Mavis Butterfield says
It was some sort of parsley sauce. No chicken taste to it at all.
Mary says
The Tower of London was so interesting! Did you get to see the Crown Jewels or take the yeoman tour? We had one with quite a sense of humor!
Katelyn says
There’s an episode of an early season of Great British Bake Off where Mel goes to this shop and tries the eel pie. She’s a good sport about it but apparently it’s not very tasty and is full of bones!
Linda Sand says
I wish I had known about this place when we visited London. We did eat enough meals in one place to begin thinking of it as “our” pub. Dave really liked the bangers and mash and we both liked the fish n chips. We passed on the steak and kidney pie, though; couldn’t talk ourselves into trying kidneys. We also learned that if you want to play pub darts, you need to bring your own darts; we had left ours at home.
NeeNee says
Very interesting place!!
It really didn’t look that delicious from the picture but I love the history of the place
When we traveled around Ireland I found the food to be disappointing as well I think we are spoiled in the U.S. with very delicious food
It’s like when you are from Maine you don’t order seafood in Florida
Just not the same!!
sandy says
https://www.manze.co.uk/merchandise/
T shirts, mugs and a tee towel…I would buy those for sure!
Mavis Butterfield says
I bought the HH a shirt! 🙂
Sue says
Eel is one of those dishes where you deliberately must think about something else while you’re eating it.
I do like the flavor of unagi (smoked) in sushi, but if I don’t discipline my mind, I start thinking about them wriggling and writhing and how much I hate snakes. And then I can’t enjoy it anymore.