An iconic piece of cockney history is set to close its doors this month, as the Manze’s pie and mash shop in Deptford will shut on January 25. The announcement comes in the wake of owner George Mascall preparing to retire after working there for over forty years. And the Deptford institution will be sorely missed.
George Mascall is the grandson of the original proprietor Michele ‘Michael’ Manze, who started the business after emigrating over from Italy in the late 1800s. Manze originally started with an ice cream shop before moving into the then-booming pie industry. The shop has remained in the family ever since. And bar some new gadgets and technology to make the kitchen work a bit easier, everything has stayed the same.
The recipes are the same and everything is still made by hand, fresh every day. The most striking feature that has remained the same, though, is the decor. Manze’s Deptford still boasts the same trademark tiling, marble tables, and wooden benches. And these aren’t facsimiles intended to reproduce the original look. They’re the real deal, genuine, original features! In fact, the store even received Grade II listed status. It’s a real slice of history and tradition in London.
When Manze’s Deptford closes later this month, it will mark 45 years Mascall has worked in the business. It will also mark 111 years since the shop was originally opened. Which, if you ask us, is a pretty impressive run.
In a statement on the website, Mascall encouraged those who want to try out one last pie from the shop to get down soon.
We expect to be very busy in the lead up to our last days. Please, please, please, make sure you get in pronto for your visit, we are selling out much earlier in the day than normal and I dont want you to be disappointed and miss out on your last pie & mash.
I can’t give exact closing times for our last few weeks – sorry!
If you need frozen pies to stock your freezer, make sure you pre-order them on the phone.
In the absence of Mascall’s ownership, several other Manze’s locations remain open around London – run by distant relatives of Mascall. These include locations in sites such as Tower Bridge and Peckham.
Head on down to Manze’s Deptford to try some truly historic grub before it’s gone for good!
đź“Ť Find it at 204 Deptford High Street, SE8 3PR.
🚇 The nearest station is Deptford.