Iconic family-run Upton Park pie and mash shop to close after 80 years in business

Nathan's Pies and Eels in Barking Road is closing after 80 years trading. Shirley Franklin, Richard and Christine Nathan stand outside Archant

An iconic Upton Park pie and mash shop is to close after more than 80 years in business.

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Nathan's Pies and Eels in Barking Road is closing after 80 years trading. Richard Nathan serves up a plate of steaming pie and mash to customer Steven Venour Nathan's Pies and Eels in Barking Road is closing after 80 years trading. Richard Nathan serves up a plate of steaming pie and mash to customer Steven Venour

Nathan’s Pie and Eels, which has remained in the same family since it opened, will serve its final pie on May 26.

It has been in its current location in Barking Road for more than 40 years.

Owner Richard Nathan, whose great-grandfather opened the shop, said it would be “a sad day” for his family and the employees. “It’s the end of an era,” he added.

The shop was a fan favourite on matchdays before West Ham’s stadium move and the shop, as well as the Recorder, have been inundated with farewell messages since Richard announced their closure.

Nathan's Pies and Eels in Barking Road is closing after 80 years trading. Christine Nathan serves up some pie and mash Nathan's Pies and Eels in Barking Road is closing after 80 years trading. Christine Nathan serves up some pie and mash

Former players including Rio Ferdinand and Julian Dicks have eaten the shop’s famous pies.

West Ham’s move, combined with some of the staff retiring, has led to Richard deciding to shut up shop.

Richard, who will now start a business as a handyman, said another reason behind the move has been that much of the shop’s established customer base that has been built up over the years have moved out of Upton Park, meaning they get less people through the door. “The area has changed so much,” he said.

But Richard and the team say they have fond memories from their time in the shop.

“It’s a bit cheesy, but we are like a big family,” he said.

The staff loved the buzz of matchdays, he said, and their busiest ever day was when West Ham played their last home game in Upton Park.

“People were queuing all down the road,” he said.

Richard is critical of the stadium move. By moving away from their historic home, he thinks the club have lost a sense of who they are.

Of a visit to the new stadium, he said: “When I walked into the shop and saw something that said ‘The West Ham Coffee Company’ I thought what the hell has happened.

“I know they call it progress but it all just seems to be driven by money.”

Nathan’s Pie and Eels will be open as usual until their last day.