'I've never seen anything like that before': YouTube star Beard Meats Food tries Salford pub's massive £85 pie challenge

One of the UK's best known competitive eaters and YouTube stars was back in Greater Manchester recently to try out one of the region's biggest pies. Beard Meats Food headed to an historic Salford pie to complete its massive sharing pie challenge last month.

The food star from Leeds, also known as Adam Moran, has become prolific on the worldwide competitive eating circuit. He's broken numerous world records and completed all manner of food challenges, demolishing mountains of Burger King whoppers, as well as 17 Big Macs in an hour and a 4,000-calorie breakfast in Nottingham.

Last year, the professional food eater took on 'The Gutbuster' at The Brotherhood of Pursuits and Pastimes opposite the Town Hall. The food challenge comprises six four-ounce beef patties plus toppings and sides was devoured in under 25 minutes, leaving him plenty of time to spare.

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This time he paid a visit to The Black Friar in Salford to try out one of its supersized pies. The boozer, which is famed for its food, kicked off the year with its annual food festival, serving up some of the best pies in the city for just £10.

Thought a permanent fixture of the menu has now become its massive sharing pies, which start from £65 and are designed to be shared between 4-6 people - but Moran decided to take the whole thing on himself.

Served with gravy, mash and greens, diners can choose from Chicken and Pancetta or Cheese, Onion and Leek for £65, while for £20 more, they can opt for the extra special Lamb Shank Pie, encompassing five braised lamb shanks, gravy, root vegetables, carrots and celeriac, Swede mash and around 800g of pastry around the outside.

While most share this rather large pies, they also give people the chance to finish it off on their own, with the chance to bag free drinks for the rest of the evening if they complete it. And that's exactly what Beard Meats Food did.

In just 28 minutes he took on the special lamb shank pie, as staff members and punters watched on in amazement. In a video shared on YouTube and racking up an impressive 3.3m views, Adam can be seen smashing through the pie, easily seeing off the filling and pastry before finishing the greens and mash.

While the YouTuber doesn't look to confident at first, he perservered all while giving a running commentary on the experience. As well as calling pies "one of the greatest inventions of humanity" and The Black Friar pie as "delicious", he also has time to joke with the chef who tells him that half a block of butter has gone into his side of mash.

After completing the challenge, a photo montage shows him enjoying some drinks - but as it parodies the film The Hangover, it's more likely a joke, though he is rewarded with a pint and adulation from pub-goers. In the video, one who doubted the food star at the beginning tells him afterwards: "I've never seen anything like that before, it's made my day."

Moran has been making professional videos on YouTube since 2015, and has amassed 3.9 million followers. He’s taken part in eating contests across the US, Canada and the UK, taking on challenges from Indian buffets to once eating 100 Tunnocks teacakes.

The Black Friar asks that pies are pre-ordered and paid for 24 hours in advance. The pie must be eaten during a sitting, which is typically around two hours, and while the pie is not free if you complete it in the allotted time, all drinks are free for the rest of the night - if you can stomach any more.