Do Glasgow butchers eat steak pie on New Years Day?

Everyone has a cherished memory of the traditional dish, whether it be a New Year's Day or a Sunday at a loved one's house.

Butchers across Glasgow get overwhelmed at this time of the year as people try to get their hands on the meal.  

Peter the Butcher with a steak pie (Image: Gordon Terris, Newsquest)

Despite being fans of the dish, however, many in this profession don't follow the tradition.

Claire Rodgers, owner of Rodgers Butchers, in Hillhead, said: "I love steak pie but normally I make so many this time of the year that I don't have it on New Year's Day."

Ryan Mitchell, co-owner of Mitchells of Erskine in the Gorbals, said: "To be honest, I don't have one because by the time Christmas comes around, I can't be bothered with them, I'm sick of the sight of them by the time I get to the other end of it."

Peter Finlayson, from David S Mason on Duke Street, however, is a big fan of the steak pie.

Affectionately known as Peter the Butcher, the worker said: "I eat them all year. I will have one probably on January 1 or 2 as well.

"They are great."

Some start preparing as early as October for the holiday rush.

Claire said: "All year round, but especially around the start of the New Year, it is the main dish the people eat.

"It's really popular.

"It's really hearty food and because of the climate here, people want something comforting and this is definitely a comfort food."

It is contested where this habit came from but everyone in the meat industry agrees it's a longstanding custom.

Ryan said: "It's always been a tradition, it's the time of the year when proper home cooking is the best.

"The weather is always bad and it's what people want, warm and steady.

"When everybody had a drink at Christmas and on New Year, it's easy and homely."

Every shop has its own 'secret' recipe, often passed down from generations.

Claire said: "We have been making our steak pies for decades now.

"This is a family business and has been around since 1869 and this is our family recipe that we use and we stick to it."

Peter, who has been in the business for over 50 years, added: "Yes, we have our own very special recipe. We use stew.

"A lot of butchers use different things in it but ours is pure shoulder steak.

"Then, we cook them in a big boiler, slowly and add all the ingredients.

"We also sell the leftover gravy for people to put on chips."

READ NEXT: I'm running 5k every day in December and now I’m ready for Christmas pudding

A lot of these stores are beloved by the community, especially during the busy festive period.

Claire said: "Because we are a local business, everyone knows us.

"We had a customer who said that growing up, he hated steak pie for dinner but every time his mum would say it was from us, he would be so excited.

"He said his face lit up knowing that."

Peter said: "I wouldn't say it's our best seller but we sell roughly about a couple hundred a week.

"But it's a great seller, along with our other pies and steaks."

Even those just setting up expect huge crowds.

Ryan said: "We haven't had a Christmas here yet but at our other shop at Erskine, we do a quarter of a year's turnover at Christmas time.

"People normally queue out the door at 6am in the morning,

"Last year, we went through five tonnes of stew."