At just 19 years old, Cairn Robbie of WeeCOOK in Arbroath has been crowned Young Pie Maker of the Year at the prestigious British Pie Awards 2025.
His skill, dedication, and good-natured banter in the kitchen have made him a standout talent in Scotland’s pie-making scene.
Arbroath’s award-winning pie business, is no stranger to success at the British Pie Awards.
This year’s win marks the second consecutive time a WeeCOOK team member has taken home the title and the fourth time in five years that one of their bakers has claimed the honour.
Dishwasher to pie chef
But Cairn’s journey to award-winning pie maker wasn’t exactly planned. His first step into the kitchen at the bakery wasn’t to make pies, but to scrub.
“I started as a kitchen porter just after lockdown, washing dishes as a summer job,” Cairn recalls.
His introduction to the team happened by chance. He and his family were dining at the WeeCOOK Kitchen Café when he liked the energy and atmosphere of the place.
‘I loved the atmosphere’
“I needed a job, and I had no money coming in,” he says. “So, I handed in my CV and hoped for the best.”
It wasn’t long before he landed a trial shift, and from the very first day, he was given a chance to try his hand at pie-making.
“I got to have a go at crimping a pie. Ethan, who was the pie baker at the time, let me try it out, and Hayley, the owner, said my crimping was better than his,” Cairn laughs.
That early spark of talent turned into a full-fledged passion, and over the years, Cairn honed his craft under the guidance of the WeeCOOK team.
Passion for pie-making
Cairn quickly progressed from washing dishes to working both in the kitchen and front-of-house.
“I did the dishes, prepped veg, helped with seafood, and even tried waitering for a while,” he says. “But I always liked cooking the best.”
And Cairn has been involved in developing new flavours, including the award-winning Butter Chicken pie.
“We take pies seriously here,” he says. “We’re always experimenting with new fillings, and it’s great to be part of that process.”
Team is like a family
He admits that working in a smaller team since the business moved from Carnoustie to Arbroath has made them all incredibly close.
“It’s like a second family,” he says. “Everyone is really lovely.”
At home, Cairn’s love for food runs deep. Cooking has always been a shared family experience, with everyone chipping in.
“We all take turns cooking meals, but obviously, I’m the best,” he jokes. His personal favourite dish? A classic carbonara.
From kitchen to spotlight
Winning the Young Pie Maker of the Year title was a whirlwind experience for Cairn. “We sent the pies down to the competition – Hayley actually drove them down herself.
“I didn’t even know I’d be going until the last minute!” he says. “I had to leave at 3.30 in the morning to get to just outside Leicester for the awards, so it was a long day, but totally worth it.”
The event itself was an eye-opener for the young baker. “It was amazing to meet so many people who do what I do, to put faces to names I’d heard about in the industry,” he says.
His family was overjoyed with his win, although they were just as shocked as he was by the sudden trip south.
The recognition didn’t stop there. Cairn was even mentioned on Sara Cox’s BBC Radio 2 show, much to the delight of his proud parents.
Sticking to career in Esports
Despite the attention, he remains grounded, balancing his pie-making career with his studies in Esports at college.
“I love making pies, but my main goal is to work in Esports, maybe as a tournament commentator,” he says.
While his future may hold a different path, Cairn’s passion for pies remains strong. “I don’t eat any other pies now – only WeeCOOK’s,” he admits.
His personal favourite was the now-retired Pepper Pig pie, which featured black pudding, pulled pork, and peppercorn sauce.
“Right now, my top choices are the Butter Chicken and the MacChook.”
WeeCOOK’s continued success
Cairn’s achievement wasn’t the only win for WeeCOOK at the British Pie Awards. The business also took home multiple medals and two best-in-class titles.
Their MacChook Pie – a combination of haggis, chicken, and bacon – was named Best Hot Savoury Pie in Britain.
This follows previous wins for the MacChook at the Scottish Bakers Scotch Pie Awards, where it earned the title of Best Speciality Savoury Pie in Scotland.
Another standout success for the team was their Chicken & Bacon Pie, which was crowned Class Champion in its category.
Owner/chef Hayley Wilkes attributes their continued success to the quality ingredients and passion behind each pie.
“We believe in making proper tasty pies that our customers love and want to come back for,” she says.
As for Cairn, he’s happy to be part of a team that takes pie-making to the next level.
“It’s amazing to see Scottish pies getting the recognition they deserve,” he says.
“And I’m proud to show that young people in Scotland can make a real impact on the food industry.”
Conversation