THEY are delicious and sweet, so when asking ‘who’s eaten all the pies’ there should be no surprise at the amount of possible suspects.

Pies are a firmly established food choice throughout the UK - with one recent research poll even suggesting a staggering 75 per cent of British people enjoy a pie at least once a week, while 79 per cent are willing to pay extra for a homemade one.

The food item dates back hundreds of years ago and in ‘pie fanatic Britain’ the food can even be traced to the 15th century, where King Henry VIII is said to have enjoyed a quince marmalade and orange pie.

Today - until March 12 - marks the start of the popular annual British Pie Week which aims to simply celebrate and enjoy the puffy pastry.

Steve Bridges, who owns the award winning Newport-based Elm Tree Bakery, has been producing homemade pies since 2009.

“There’s such a variety of different pies,” said Mr Bridges, “there never used to be years ago but since the food explosion in Britain people now want different flavours.

“Pies have been able to give people different flavours and I think that’s one of the reasons why people love them.

“Just think of the variety of different pies - steak, beef, vegetable - there’s so many.”

Mr Bridges believes that pies are popular for two reasons.

“Pies are quite a traditional dish and we have been making pies for a couple of years now,” said Mr Bridges.

“Also, if you think about it pies are quite affordable prices so people will buy them.

“We are predominately a pie bakery and people seem to really enjoy our pies.”

Mr Bridges said that two of the company’s pies won awards at the Royal Welsh Winter Fair including Boozy Beef which came in first place and their Homity pie won second place.

He said: “I think it’s interesting that the Homity pie dates back to the Second World War.

“It is very popular with our customers.”

He added: “We’ll be celebrating British Pie Week by going to Abergavenny and talking to people about it.”

Joe Morgan, 54, who lives in Monmouthshire and also calls himself a “pie enthusiast”, believes people enjoy pies because of the “texture”.

“Just think of all the different food out there,” said Mr Morgan, “and you won’t get anything quite like a pie.

“The texture is soft, yummy and unique.

“The people I know enjoy pies because of the texture.

“We eat a couple of pies a week.”

He added: “I know the pies at the Nag’s Head are good quality.

“The only downside to eating a good pie is the amount of calories - but I try not to think about that.”

Simon Key, owner of the Nag’s Head pub in Usk, said he sells over 100 pies a week.

He said: “We sell between 50 to 60 steak pies a week and roughly 40 rabbit pies.

“We get everything close and it’s all top quality.

“I think continuity and good ingredients are what makes a pie popular.”

Parc Pantry, a cafe in Newport, said they sell roughly 60 pies a week.

Co-owner Matt Ellis said: “We recognise that pies are a bit of every person’s food.

“Pies are something that people can relate to and everyone knows that lots of pies are made locally.

“We sell a lot of pies here but our pie in a box sells well.

“A pie in a box offers many different choices.

“Our most popular is a pie made of onion, gravy, mature cheddar and cracked black pepper.”

Mr Ellis added that the business will be celebrating British Pie Week by offering a special pie to its customers.

Beatrix Hughes, co-owner of Pie Corner Fish Bar in Rogerstone, said that “loads of her” customers buy pies.

She said: “I changed my pies recently, but everyone seemed to love their pies even before the change.

“We always have a lot of people buying pies.

“What ever the pie - beef and onion, steak and onion - people seem to like whatever pies they can have.

“I’m not entirely sure why people love their pies - they just do.”

Heather Morgan, who lives near Pie Corner Fish Bar, said the reason she enjoys eating pies is because “they’re made locally”.

She said: “There’s so much food out there and most is mass-produced.

“I fell in love with pies when I was a little girl and have memories of my mam cooking us pies.

“The pies I buy are made locally and the quality’s amazing.

“We are always being told to buy local and that’s what I’m doing.”

Mrs Morgan added: “I’ll be celebrating British Pie Week by eating pies.

“There’s nothing better than tucking into a good homemade pie.”