A NEW food venture has been launched in Weymouth, headed by a former Royal Navy chef, creating and delivering homemade pies across the town and on Portland.

And following such a successful start, delighted bosses of the fledgling business have announced expansion plans are already being developed which would create even more jobs for local people.

Chris Wilson is head chef at the newly-launched Dorset Pie Company, based on the Granby Trading Estate. The company, headed by Managing Director Ben Andrews, also employs two further chefs who have put together a mouth-watering menu of 10 pies using locally sourced ingredients.

Pies include beef and blue vinny; beef and ale; chicken and vegetable; black pudding, sausage and apple, and ham hock, leek and mustard.

There are also vegetarian and vegan offerings, as well as limited editions including a vegan cheeseburger pie.

People can order pies online from the company's website or Deliveroo to collect from the kitchen, while it employs drivers to deliver food across Weymouth and Portland. The pies will also be on JustEat soon.

Chris, who has had an extensive career in the industry including catering in the Royal Navy and Officers’ Mess at Lulworth as well as at The Royal Hotel, Rendezvous and Weymouth College, said the team was continually working on developing new flavour combinations.

The 47-year-old, who lives on Portland, added: “We have had a brilliant start to the business. All of our ingredients are sourced locally and we have had rave reviews for the quality of our pies from across the board.

“It has been a difficult time for everyone over the past 18 months during the pandemic, but we are delighted to have been able to launch this business, and so pleased members of the public are enjoying the food we are offering. Thank you to everyone for their incredible support.”

The team is now already planning to expand the operation and will be holding meetings this week to discuss plans for a shop front at the site to encourage walk-in sales without prior ordering. The moves will create more jobs at the site.

Weymouth has enjoyed a boost in food businesses recently - despite the hospitality industry being thrown into turmoil by the Covid pandemic – with the opening of a number of ventures including Burger King, Sbarro, Funkin’ Fries, Cactus Jacks, The Big 5 South African Takeaway and Proper Naughty Burger Co in the town.

Craig Oakes, President of Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, said: “We have got a lot of good foodie places now in Dorset and it all seems to be getting a lot of interest – and any more that come are great to see for the town. This season has been difficult with the ‘pingdemic’ and massive staff shortages in the hospitality industry, but people have managed to knuckle down and get on with it and it has turned out to still be a great season.

“These businesses have managed to come out the other side of the pandemic which is great. I want to say well done to all of the local businesses around, especially in hospitality which has had a particularly tough time.”