Support quality, independent, local journalism…that matters

From just £1 a month you can help fund our work – and use our website without adverts. Become a member today

A Caerphilly pie restaurant has benefitted from more than £37,400 worth of grant support from the UK Government, which has allowed it to relocate and expand its new unit over the last year.

Hancox’s Pies first opened Gilfach in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic four years ago.

It has since outgrown its small high street shop, and last year moved to a new site on Caerphilly’s Pontygwindy Industrial Estate.

The popular Portuguese-inspired business is run by Alexandre Hancox, who uses his own mother’s recipes from his home city of Evora, in Portugal.

Since relocating to Caerphilly in 2023, the business has been a huge success, selling more than 5,731 pies in its cafe alone.

Hancox’s Pies also continues to support the local community with affordable meals for children, with offers for them to eat for as little as £1 at the cafe throughout the school holidays.

Earlier this year, the business signed a lease allowing it to further expand into the unit next door. The unit now incorporates not only tea and coffee, but also draft beer from Portugal, further seating, and longer opening hours.

Eight people are currently employed by Hancox’s Pies and with the expansion into the new unit they will soon be looking for more staff.

Hancox’s Pies Ltd has received a total of £37,452 from the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund in the last three years. 

Mr Hancox said: “The process of applying for the grants was very easy on every occasion, with excellent communication from the council.

“We are forecast to make over £1 million turnover this year and the council’s assistance with the expansion has helped in achieving this.”