THE pull of the pie loft has been drawing in customers from across the district.

Matfen resident Sarah Bell has opened Four and Twenty pie and mash shop in the centre of Corbridge, with many people taking the opportunity to dine out in the upstairs of the Hill Street building – christened the pie loft by the owner.

Sarah has worked in catering all her life and used to run her own soda bread business.

She was looking to start a new shop specialising in pie and mashed potato and jumped at the chance when the premises in Corbridge became available.

Alongside manager Shelley Charlton, she makes the meals, which are available for both dining in and takeaway, from scratch, which includes pastry and condiments.

“It’s about fabulous, homemade, fresh pies which are delicious, even if I do say so myself, although I don’t get time to eat them,” Sarah said.

While Four and Twenty specialise in pies and mash, there are a number of various food items on its menu. Breakfasts can come with a pie, as can the popular lunches and brunches.

The baked items have also been selling like hot cakes.

Since opening recently, the shop has already gained quite a following and the opening hours are soon to be extended to meet demand.

Sarah said: “I always wanted to do something for myself and, when this little shop came up in Corbridge, I thought, ‘brilliant, that’s ideal’

“The feedback from customers has been great and it is all going so well, and people have said they would like us to be open longer so they can come to us at tea time.”

Sarah and the team have gone for a vintage feel for the shop, and the exterior of the building certainly stands out on Hill Street.

There are items of historical interest in the building, with the beams used for the ceiling coming from a shipwreck.

The building itself is historically significant too, having stood in the village since 1711.