Award winning pie shop opens in Southampton

Winchester's only pie, mash, and comic book shop, Piecaramba! opened their new shop in Carlton Place, on Thursday.

The new premises is spread over two floors, giving the business the opportunity to cater to more customers, as well as provide a function area for private parties and events.

The brain child of Rob Litchfield and Phil Linssen, two men passionate about pie and pop culture, or as they put it - "reinvent pie and mash, dragging it kicking and screaming into the 21st century."

The new restaurant is the company's second in just over a year, with the first shop opening in Winchester in October last year.

Rob Litchfield, proprietor of Piecaramba! said :”We have worked really hard to establish ourselves in Winchester, and wanted to open another shop as quickly as possible, and not fall into a position where we got too comfortable with just one store.”

When asked about future expansion plans he said: “We absolutely would love to open more Piecaramba!’s and we’ve earmarked a couple of other towns for expansion if and when the time is right.”

On opening the new premises Phil Linssen said that they have had a really positive response from both customers and local businesses and was looking forward to getting everything up and running.

"We just wanted to create an exciting and fun place to eat for all ages" he said. " People come, tell their friends, and keep coming back." He said.

The businesses is also celebrating a win for best concession of the Year at the UK festival awards in London, for their stalls at Bestival and Camp Bestival. Mr Linssen said: "! The whole team worked so hard this summer getting our name onto the festival circuit, and it was amazing to have our efforts rewarded."

The Winchester shop also received high praise, after a surprise visit from Guardian restaurant critic, Jay Raynor who called Piecaramba! a "bloody good pie shop." On the opening of the second Southampton shop Raynor quipped "lucky Southampton."