A TRADITIONAL pie and mash shop has landed on a busy high street and is serving up nostalgia for a by-gone era.

Robins Pie and Mash opened its fifth bricks-and-mortar shop in Station Road, in Chingford, on Saturday (July 16).

A fifth-generation Robins, manager Joe Holmes, 27, wanted to move the family business, which he joined as a 16-year-old, as he knew the “good people” of Chingford love their pie and mash.

Starting in 1929 in Upton Park, the business now has shops in Wanstead, Romford, Basildon, and Southend, but its pies can also be found in Asda, Iceland and even in Spain.

Mr Holmes found the site himself and designed an interior in fitting with east London shops of old, complete with black and white tiles, wooden seating and an ornate mirror reclaimed from a church.   

Mr Holmes’ aunt, Melanie Robins said: “He’s worked his little socks off.”

Asked if she thought it was the best-looking Robins shop so far, Ms Robins said: “Yes, definitely, without a doubt.”

Mr Holmes added: “We like to think so, we’ve put a lot of work in to it.

“They are nice people round here, people that like pie and mash.”

For just £3.60 you can pick up a pie, mash and liquor, jellied eels come in at £3 and the Robins poached salmon, mash and liquor is £5.50.

A meal deal option lets hungry lunch-goers grab a pie, mash and liquor, a fruit pie with a scoop of ice cream, and your choice of tea or orange juice, for £5.50.  

Jamie Oliver once told Mr Holmes’ grandmother, June Robins, he couldn’t “believe you can do this for that price”.

The Chingford shop is open from 10am to 6pm Monday to Saturday and once a month on Sunday, when the market is on.