Paul Hollywood, best known as a judge on The Great British Bake Off, paid a surprise visit to Baldy's Pies, a much-loved pie shop in Wigan, over the weekend. The bakery, founded by chef Alex Melling in 2021, began in a borrowed kitchen and now sells its home bakes at the Windy Arbour Farm Shop on Wigan's Ashton Road.
Award-Winning Pies
Earlier this year, Baldy's Pies won big at the British Pie Awards. Alex's Chicken Kiev Pie received the 'Pie of Pies' accolade, taking home the Supreme Champion award as well as the best in the Chicken & Vegetable/Herb Pie class.
Flavours on offer at Baldy's Pies include smoked lamb and beetroot jam, BBQ Asian chicken thighs and the Spicy Porker, with pies often selling out due to high demand.
Hollywood Handshake
Hollywood, who has judged Bake Off since it premiered on the BBC in 2010, is currently working alongside Nigella Lawson on the ongoing 2026 series on Channel 4. He was also spotted at Lovingly Artisan bakery, a sourdough bakery with locations in the Lake District and at Altrincham Market, opting for the Kendal branch.
Wearing a dark black jacket and blue jeans, Hollywood was all smiles as he awarded Alex one of his signature Hollywood handshakes. A post on the Facebook page What's happening in Wigan stated: “A bit of Hollywood in Wigan… Paul Hollywood's already been spotted at J McRobb High Class Family Butchers in Standish today... and now at Baldy's Pies at Windy Arbour. Obviously here to see what REAL pies are. Also, Alex, did you not get the memo about the trainers? What a fab pic though, love how Big Jim is on it too. #wigan #goodnews.”
No Expansion Plans
Despite the attention from one of the UK's biggest TV stars, Alex previously told the Manchester Evening News that he has no intentions of expanding his business anytime soon. He explained: “I like the personal touch to my company. I think places often lose that when they get bigger. I want people to know that when they come to Baldy's. They know it's been made by me. I enjoy what I do and it's working well, so why change it?”
