Raymond’s Pie and Mash Shop in Eltham has been run by the Jones family for 32 years.
Michelle Jones, 51, took over the shop from her parents around 20 years ago and now runs it with her son Connor.
She says times have been tough with pie and mash going out of fashion – and they were thrilled when the protected status debate hit the news.
It is hoped pie and mash will be granted Traditional Specialty Guaranteed (TSG) status like Scottish salmon and Welsh lamb.
Michelle said: “My mum and dad loved pie and mash they constantly used to take us there when I was a little girl.
“I absolutely loved it. When they said they were opening the shop I thought it was the best thing ever.
“I have been brought up on it. It was my favourite dish ever.
“We have to sell other stuff to keep the business going because the youngsters today haven’t all tried pie and mash.
“People loved it in the olden days, and it needs to carry on for the youngsters to try. I brought all my kids up on it and they love it.
“It should be a protected dish. Traditional pie and mash and liquor should be protected.”
Despite the shop being mostly run by her and her son, Michelle says they are a “proper pie and mash family” with her daughter sometimes doing shifts, her sister running her own shop in Gravesend, and her brother having a pie and mash van.
However, despite all the attention online, Michelle says the shop is still struggling – and was even recently burgled twice in one week.
She said: “We are only a small family business.
“There has been a lot of press about pie and mash shops lately talking about how they are a dying trade and we need to protect them. I don’t know if that is what made them target us.
“Maybe people saw it and thought of us. It did hit us hard two times on the trot.
“I can’t believe they did us twice. We had only just fixed it from the first time.
“We were struggling to keep open anyway. It was in the news that pie, and mash shops needed help and a week later we were robbed.
“I am hoping they won’t come back. I will give up if they do!”
The first robbery took place on 8 November, where Michelle says the burglars smashed their door and window- stealing money from the till and the tip jar.
The shop was then hit again on November 13, with the now recently repaired window smashed once again.
This time, on top of grabbing the cash, the burglars destroyed the toy machine that was in place for children- smashing all the toys on the pavement outside.
The combined thefts cost the family around £2,000, and Michelle says she had to borrow money from her dad in order to fix the damage.
She added: “I just felt like crying. You try and keep your business going and you have people going around stealing from you. It is gutting.
“It was just the hassle of the damage they caused and the mess they left. It is just ridiculous. Quite a few have been broken into in the area.
“I was literally shaking the second time when someone rang me to say police were outside and we had been broken into again. I just couldn’t believe it.”
Michelle believes the two incidents were done by the same perpetrators- despite not being able to see their faces in the second lot of CCTV.
The shop has now installed shutters in hopes of stopping any further thefts.
Connor Jones, 28, who now mostly runs the shop was described by his mum as “the most upset” after the break-ins.
He has since set up a Gofundme page to try and raise money to put the business back on track- achieving £550 in donations so far.
Metropolitan Police have confirmed they are investigating the two burglaries and are yet to make any arrests.
A spokesperson said: “Between 18.00hrs on Thursday, 7 November, and 07.00hrs on Friday, 8 November, a single suspect smashed the front window of the restaurant in Passey Place and crawled inside. On this occasion, they stole a small amount of cash.
“This was followed by a second break-in at 22.52hrs on Wednesday, 13 November. Two hooded males dressed in dark clothing smashed in the front door and made off with toy and sweet dispenser machines.
“The two machines were subsequently found smashed on the ground nearby. The suspects were last seen running down Philipot Path, towards Court Road.”
Investigating officer PC Jordan Turner added: “We are working to investigate both these burglaries and whether they may be linked.
“Two incidents in such a short space of time is undoubtedly upsetting for the owners of the business.
“We are keen to hear from any witnesses or anyone with information and would ask them to contact police on 101 quoting CAD reference 1374/08NOV24.”
Donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/raymonds-pie-and-mash-broken-into-twice-in-one-week
