Raymond’s Pie and Mash Eltham Seeks Protected Status for Traditional Dish
Raymond’s Pie and Mash in Eltham is calling for protected status to preserve its traditional dish amid struggles to keep the business afloat
Raymond’s Pie and Mash, Eltham, UK, Burglaries, Traditional Dish
Eltham: Raymond’s Pie and Mash Shop has been a family-run business for over 30 years. Michelle Jones took over from her parents and now runs it with her son, Connor.
They’ve faced tough times lately, especially with pie and mash not being as popular as it used to be. So, when the idea of getting protected status came up, they were over the moon.
Michelle hopes their dish will be recognized like Scottish salmon or Welsh lamb. She reminisces about her childhood, saying, “My mum and dad loved pie and mash. It was my favorite dish ever.”
She’s passionate about keeping the tradition alive, especially for younger generations who haven’t tried it yet. “We have to sell other stuff to keep going,” she explains, noting that kids today often miss out on this classic meal.
Despite being a small family business, they’re all in it together. Michelle’s daughter helps out, and her siblings are also in the pie and mash game. But even with all the family support, they’re struggling.
Recently, they were hit by two burglaries in just one week, which has been really tough. The first break-in saw thieves smash their door and steal cash, and just days later, they were hit again.
Michelle was devastated, saying, “You try to keep your business going, and then people steal from you. It’s gutting.” The total loss from both incidents was around £2,000, which has put a strain on the family.
Connor has even set up a Gofundme page to help raise funds to get back on track. So far, they’ve raised £550, but it’s still a long way to go.
The police are investigating the burglaries, but no arrests have been made yet. Michelle just hopes they won’t be targeted again. “I’ll give up if they do!” she says, feeling the weight of the situation.