The awards are a national celebration of pie making. The organisers are welcoming back high profile judges such as Charles Campion, Phil Vickery, Xanthe Clay and Rachel Green – and adding to the expert pie tasters this year will be Guardian Weekend food editor Bob Granleese,  Lucas Hollweg of Sunday Times Style and Richard Ford of renowned food industry title The Grocer.

The 2013 awards take place in Melton Mowbray on the 24th April. The top three pie makers from each class will be invited to an all new awards pie lunch on Thursday 25th April, where the class winners and supreme champion will be announced.