always have their finger on the pulse, and with it being National Pie Week, they certainly know how to celebrate in style.

Pies are a true British staple, and in light of this, the have launched another of their beloved meal deal offers, and this time it's a £10 dine-in meal for two, which includes two pies and three sides.

The deal has been hugely popular on , with pie lovers going crazy for the bargain. Reviews have amassed with thousands of views online, with hundreds of foodies sharing the combinations they have picked up.

I decided to try out the dine-in range to see what the hype is all about. After all, who doesn't love a hearty pie and mash for dinner. I judged each one based on appearance, value for money, amount of filling included and pastry.

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I headed off to my local M&S with a hungry belly, and was stunned at how many different combinations you could choose from. With eight different pie varieties in the deal including chicken and gravy, cheese and onion and ham and leek, I opted for a steak and ale and a chicken tikka.

You get three sides as part of the deal which feels extremely generous. These included the likes of chunky chips, cheesy mash, vegetable medley, beef, chicken or onion gravy as well as creamy spinach. I decided to go for some cheesy mash, beef gravy and creamed spinach - ready for a real feast. I was surprised by how many options were available, and how easy they all are to rustle up, which meant it took a lot of pressure off cooking - especially for those who don't want to spend all evening cooking.

I decided on a classic steak and ale, as well as a more unique chicken tikka. These were both extremely luxurious pies, and the pastry was flaky and golden. The steak pie was rich and there was a nice hint of ale in the aftertaste, however I felt as if there was a lack of steak - but ample amounts of gravy which meant it wasn't dry.

For the chicken tikka pie, I was pleased with the taste as it did definitely taste of chicken tikka, but I am not sure how I feel about it in a pie. There were strong hints of curry, but the chicken tasted a little dry. Nevertheless, it was still very tasty.

Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potato

Who doesn't love cheesy mash? This side was a true hearty dish to go perfectly with my pies. It was light and fluffy and you could seriosuly taste the cheese. I was very impressed with it - and is perfect for those looking for the taste of a home cooked meal without the fuss.

Creamed spinach

While this was very watery due to the amount of cream, it's hard to fault it. The spinach mix was smooth and very rich which made it taste like a real treat. The shallots were a nice addition to help enhance the flavours as well as a nice hint of garlic, and it was a perfect side dish for the pies and mash.

Beef gravy

This gravy was thick and very decadant; it made the meal feel like a traditional home-cooked dinner. It had a very strong beef taste, which meant it wasn't the best with the chicken tikka pie, but overall I was very impressed with the flavour. Lathered on top of the mash it was a real delight. I don't think this gravy would work with anything other than steak pies or roast beef due to how strong it was, so for those who don't like overpowering flavours, it might not be for you.

M&S have outdone itself with this meal deal in terms of value for money, and I think it can seriously compete with any restaurant quality pie and mash. I was left feeling very full, and very satisfied, and for £10 you truly can't go wrong. Perhaps the pies don't compete to a home cooked version in terms of lack of filling, but it is still winning on taste and quality.

Mains

• Plant Kitchen Mushroom Pie


• Cheese and Onion Shortcrust Pastry Pie


• Classic Chicken and Gravy Shortcrust Pie


• Classic Steak & Ale Puff Pastry Pie


• Classic Steak Shortcrust Pastry Pie


• Creamy Chicken Tikka Pie


• Creamy Chicken and Mushroom Puff Pastry Pie


• Made Without Wheat Gluten Free Chicken, Ham and Leek Pie

Sides

• Chunky Chips


• Tenderstem Broccoli, Butternut Squash and Sugar Snap Peas


• Chicken Gravy


• Onion Gravy


• Beef Gravy


• Buttery Mashed Potato


• Cheddar Cheese Mashed Potato


• Colcannon Mashed Potato


• Creamed Spinach


• Green Vegetable Medley

Do you have a story to share? Email niamh.kirk@reachplc.com