Manze v Arments - The Results

[Terry_Hurlock]

Right,heres my take...pie&mash..yuck
STEAK pie and mash..yummy. (Oh,with thick beef gravy)
Even being a Pecham lad I never did like mincemeat pies,and that jar of sick..uurgI'll get my tin hat on

Cock Monkey.

 

[Ulster Lion]

I think you should receive a gong in the New Years Honours List for Public Service.
Congratulations on a very comprehensive 'Just Back' from the P&M shops report, and fair scoring system.
There's a gentleman on here, who would no doubt assist if you were ever to think of writing The P&M Bible.

 

[waterloowacker]

Manzes got a comeback video out there trying to get some custom back after the other video. Looks a very clean kitchen this time around

 

[waterloowacker]

Anybody know how to upload a whatsapp video to here ?

 

[Wippa]

The thing is Whisky... The Pie is the king and deserves a bigger points allocation than the liquor and mash. But I personally would choose Manze because Arments liquor (in my humble one) was not a patch on Manze's, so the 'full package' works better with Manze, which my score couldn't reflect.

That saying, if someone said to me lets go for an Arment's.. I'd be down Westmoreland Rd quicker than you could say "crap liquor"..... because those pies are absolutely gorgeous.

I can also confirm after my lunch that Arments pies and Manze Liquor together really is the perfect P&M

Surely the pie trumps the liquor?

 

[whiskylion]

The thing is Whisky... The Pie is the king and deserves a bigger points allocation than the liquor and mash. But I personally would choose Manze because Arments liquor (in my humble one) was not a patch on Manze's, so the 'full package' works better with Manze, which my score couldn't reflect.

That saying, if someone said to me lets go for an Arment's.. I'd be down Westmoreland Rd quicker than you could say "crap liquor"..... because those pies are absolutely gorgeous.

I can also confirm after my lunch that Arments pies and Manze Liquor together really is the perfect P&M

I have often said that a blend is better than a single malt.

Disappointing about the liquor. Never had that problem with it in the past.

 

[King of The Jungle]

I like the fact that arments won if you just add up the pie mash and liquor alone score and nothing else. Cos that’s what it’s all about to me.
Re the gravy in Manzes pies, they may have actually reduced that, because a big thing was made about it on the pie mash appreciation page on Facebook (by me) and the bloke who makes them admitted they put a lot of gravy in the pies, or ‘browning’ as he called it. Maybe they’ve lessened it since then?
As for the liquor, I actually agree with you there, Manzes liquor probably edges it, but I love the taste of the chilli vinegar and pepper so it doesn’t bother me too much that arments liquor doesn’t have as much flavour.
The pies to me are second to none. Proper traditional Pie mash pies, quite unique these days as so few pie mash shops make them in the traditional way.

Unless they've changed over the last year Deptford Manze never put gravy in their pies. Although I think Deptford is a seperate operation to TBR and Peckham.

 

[King of The Jungle]

To put the cat amongst the pigeons I've always been partial to a Hoxton Cooks.

 

[mfcjohn]

Arments every time for me, glad we won!

 

[Eamon Dunphys tackle]

Unless they've changed over the last year Deptford Manze never put gravy in their pies. Although I think Deptford is a seperate operation to TBR and Peckham.

What branch was the Manze's pies judged on?

 

[Terry_Hurlock]

Surely the pie trumps the liquor?

Anybody know how to upload a whatsapp video to here ?

I email it myself, but must be an easier way...

 

[Lion of rotherhithe]

What branch was the Manze's pies judged on?

It doesn't matter he's redeemed himself by saying the whole package from manzes beats arments hands down (he may have not said hands-down) as it shouldn't be based on individual elements, thats good enough for me I'm off for a while now to leave all you lot to read the 100 replys

 

[Terry_Hurlock]

What branch was the Manze's pies judged on?

Peckham do the deliveries I believe,,,,

 

[Lion of rotherhithe]

Peckham do the deliveries I believe,,,,

I'm sure tbr do as well, as apart from the local deliveries (deliveroo) have seen a manzes delivery van loading up from there a few times, I'll be having some tomorrow

 

[stevelurker]

Legend post mate. Let’s be thankful both are still in business and we can take or leave either of them if you want, but remember an old saying I was once told, a bad P&M shop is better than no P&M shops. Where’s Obes when you need him?

 

[Eamon Dunphys tackle]

Peckham do the deliveries I believe,,,,

So does TBR which we order from.

 

[Eamon Dunphys tackle]

I'm sure tbr do as well, as apart from the local deliveries (deliveroo) have seen a manzes delivery van loading up from there a few times, I'll be having some tomorrow

Just Eat deliver ours from TBR branch.

 

[Lion of rotherhithe]

Just Eat deliver ours from TBR branch.

knew it was one or other, probably just them, always a few mopeds turn up and go while getting mine.

 

[The German Herman]

Unless they've changed over the last year Deptford Manze never put gravy in their pies. Although I think Deptford is a seperate operation to TBR and Peckham.

Deptford was always my favourite up until about three years ago, I then discovered LBS Blackfen which is as good as any others out there, I believe the pies are from Arments

 

[ParisWall]

Ladies and Gentleman..

The results are in... now 1st we need to put this in to perspective, battles have broke out over this, people seriously injured.. I know for a fact that the Wigan Semi in house fight at Wembley was Manze v Arments.

Both sides will treat me about as well as school teacher who shows a picture of Mohammed if they lose, so I ask for protection now.

WEBSITE
5 points available
Manze doesn't show individual price and is confusing, Arments a simpler process and prices clear.

Score Arments 4 Manze 2

DELIVERY
5 Points.
Both not quick, but Arments considerably slower. Manze sends email/text updates, Arments doesn't.. That saying just a few hours after receiving the Arments box I got a call from them checking I had delivery (as courier hadn't updated) which was nice.

Score Arments 2 Manze 4

PACKAGING
5 Points.
Both very well packaged in a well sealed polysteyrene bos with plenty of ice bags.
Arments 5 Manze 5

PRICE
15 Points
I got it wrong with Arments as I also sneaked in a couple of fruit pies, so actual pie and Mash (thats 4 pies, a large mash and two large liquors £24.79, similar Manze £28). It should be noted that If you buy larger quantities .. Manze will become much cheaper.
Arments 9 Manze 6

COOKING
Both instructions good and both piss easy to do.. so not bothering to score this. If you can use an oven and a microwave.. you can reheat these.


Now guess which is which?!?!?!?
View attachment 12365

MASH
20 Points
Ok here we go.. we're on to what really matters... the food!
Arments mash appeared fluffier, but Manze packs more in to a container so its squashed down. Taste wise very little difference, but we all agreed the slightly more fluffy (even after fluffing up the Manze) Arments was probably slightly better... But you could have swapped them around and we probably wouldn't have really noticed... so..
Arments 18 Manze 16

EELS
10 Points
Not purchased this time as Arments not selling them!
I'm not a huge lover of eels (ever since I had a dodgy pot of jellied ones from a pub years ago and was ill for days), but do eat them occasionally and I can say Manze ones are well cooked, soft and full of flavour.
So..
Arments 0 Manze 6

LIQUOR
15 Points.
"Houston we have a problem" Here Arments lets itself down, the liquor was much 'creamier' and had far less parsley and really didn't taste of much at all, so added considerably more chilli vinegar and pepper... Is this a good thing? We didn't think so. Manze's liquor far tastier (and visually looked far more appetising too).
Arments 8 Manze 14

PIES
30 Points
Size - Arments look bigger - but this sad fcker weighed both and the weights were Arments 156g Manze 153g.. it seemed weird that they were virtually the same, but on closer inspection, Arments pies have larger 'lids' while Manze are deeper so have slightly more meat..
I you like pastry.. you'll get more with Arments, if you like meat you'll get a little more with Manze.

Now we all know about Wippa's views on the gravy added to Manze's pies, but the pies were nothing like what Wippa's picture shows with Gravy oozing out. When on plate mixed with liquor and the mash the quantity of 'ooze' was very similar between them, with Manze being a little browner because of the gravy I suppose. But Taste you say?!?!?

Well here it is..... Arments pies taste a lot nicer, far more meaty than Manze and quite noticeable too. I can't lie, the taste is to die for...

Arments 28 Manze 20

SO THE FINAL SCORES And I honestly haven't added the scores up until I'm writing this.......

Arments 74 Manze 73. Shit I thought Manze had won!


In summary... Buy your pies in Arments, your liquor in Manze and Mash from either... If you're a skin flint and buying a few pies, use Arments.... for big orders use Manze due to their quantity discounts.

Or in short - South London has the best P&M shops in the World... we're luckily to have them both.

Brilliant work, mate.

So, after all that in-depth research, there's nothing between either of them?

I'll stick to fish and chips.