We Visit Project Pies, the Carlton Hill-Based Lockdown Sensation That Has Changed Our City’s Food Scene

Our lot don’t shy away from a pastry or three. So when we heard there was a new pie shop in town, we darted to the newly-opened Project Pies in Carlton Hill to meet with pie-maker Dan Lione, say hello, and get acquainted with his no-nonsense grub.

Dan’s journey into the industry started when he was 24 and working as a plasterer. A fortuitous morning in a local coffee shop was his turning point: While watching customers being served, he thought that the job looked fun and enjoyable - a far cry from working on building sites miles away from home. One large pay cut later, Dan started work at Caffè Nero - finding the first job he truly enjoyed.

Fast-forward some years later and he started baking and selling pies from the butcher’s shop that he worked at, becoming an instant ‘lockdown success’. With social media being his sole means of advertising, news travelled fast, and orders came flying in. He also operated from Big Mike’s Artisan Cheesecakes store when it was closed on Mondays, and eventually took a leap of faith, grabbing the premises full-time when it became available earlier this year. Word has since spread like wildfire: The opening day saw 400 mouth-watering pies sell out rapidly, with customers queuing around the block to get their pastry fix - and who can blame them? Having sampled the pies ourselves, we can attest to their greatness. 

His flaky pastries are the perfect fusion of traditional and modern. From the Classic Chicken to the Steak and Stilton, it’s simply impossible to make a ‘wrong’ choice here. We’ve also got a lot of love for their Chicken Balti pie, a firm British favourite that ticks all the right boxes. And not to forget, their ever-popular sausage rolls and pork pies.

Fear not, vegetarians - we have been assured that as soon as Dan finds a way to cope with an explosion in demand, the new veggie menu will be launched.

These pies come in two sizes: an individual pie is £3.75 to £4.50, and family-sized is £7.50 to £8.50. The goods are homemade with free-range fillings, and I can guarantee you, they are worth every single butter-soaked calorie.

We spoke to Nottingham’s resident pie-guy during our visit. Although he told us that running this booming business left him feeling like a lone ranger, he made it clear that he wouldn’t have been able to get by without a little help from his friends: “I’ve been a one-man gang since the beginning, from creating my own logo and menu to opening the shop. But I’ve had loads of help throughout. My friends took me on delivery rounds every Sunday throughout COVID, as I don’t drive. They helped decorate the shop and brought me food on my eighteen-hour days. The dream wouldn’t be reality without these people, their support, and their love. I’ve been blessed with my circle of friends – it’s bigger than just me, by far.

“Everyone who ordered during COVID, and everyone who comes to the shop now, are part of this,” he continues. “Without them, Project Pies wouldn’t exist.”

We also wanted to know what Dan’s ultimate goal for Project Pies is going forward. For now, he’s staying grounded. “I’m only on my eleventh week,” Dan muses. “I’m staying humble with future plans and I’m keeping my feet firmly planted. As for my ‘made it’ moment... that’s right now.

“Tomorrow’s not guaranteed, so I’m happy in this moment. People coming through the door, purchasing pies, and saying incredible things about my products - that’s enough for me!”

We couldn’t agree more. After all, pies are a warm comfort that can bring people together. What’s not to love about that?

@project_pies_nottingham