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I get the sense that the Symingtons are trying to take Cockburn’s Port in a slightly more quirky way than the rest of the stable. The latest effort seems to be a “pop up” pie shop offering a “60 minute Port and Pie experience” for £15 over a few days in the middle of December in Shoreditch.

The menu is as follows.

PORT PIE SHOP
3 COURSE TASTING MENU
COURSE ONE
Cockburn’s Fine White orange and cinnamon-spiced tonic
Matched with Tallegio, confit leek & thyme open pie w/ fig jam
Vegan: Confit leek, yeasted cauliflower & thyme open pie w/ fig jam

COURSE TWO
Cockburn’s Special Reserve
Matched with Braised shin of beef, bay & juniper puff topped pie w/ Port gravy
Vegan: Porcini, king brown mushroom, winter squash & sage puff topped pie, port
gravy

COURSE THREE
Cockburn’s ‘Tawny Eyes’ chilled nutmeg and ginger mull
Matched with Classic Christmas Mince Pie, cinnamon butter, Port & orange syrup
Vegan: Vegan Classic Christmas Mince Pie w/ cinnamon butter & Port & orange
syrup

Normally, I would be all for something like this, but as someone whose life has been characterised by things I hold dear being ruined by hipsters which includes old Shoreditch (which used to contain a number of pie shops), I am very worried that they will now turn to Port, too!

That said, it would probably be quite fun for anyone living in or near London. Details are here: https://www.designmynight.com/london/re ... t-pie-shop

But Jacob, you are a hipster

Hah! As I feel I have to point out on a disappointingly-frequently basis, having been born within the sound of the Bow Bells, I am a cockney and therefore cannot be a hipster!

Dear Port & Pie Enthusiasts,

Thank you for booking to visit our Port & Pie Shop this week. We were excited to open the doors and welcome you from Thursday, however, due to the ongoing situation with COVID in the UK, we have decided to cancel the event this year.

The safety of our staff and the public are very important to us and whilst this is disappointing it feels like the right decision to make.

We will be issuing you a full refund through Design My Night.

Thank you again for your support and we hope to see you again in 2022 when the Port & Pie Shop returns.

Cockburn's x

If it brings joy (and port!) to people then fair play. Yet I shall not be entertaining such an idea. Interesting concept but those tails are clearly marketed to a different audience. Port cocktails aren’t my thing; the only thing added to port should be more of the same.