A POPULAR pie and mash shop, which stood in Barking for 30 years before shutting down six weeks ago, may re-open its doors. Owner Steve Cannon made a sudden decision to close Pie and Mash, in London Road, after the shop rent quadrupled. But the 53-year-ol

A POPULAR pie and mash shop, which stood in Barking for 30 years before shutting down six weeks ago, may re-open its doors.

Owner Steve Cannon made a sudden decision to close Pie and Mash, in London Road, after the shop rent quadrupled.

But the 53-year-old now says he fully regrets the move, especially after speaking to a number of former customers who tell him they're upset over the closure.

Steve, who is also a mini cab driver, told the POST he would seriously consider re-opening the shop if he knew enough people would come and enjoy his traditional East End fayre.

The father of two said: "I didn't want to shut the shop. But I panicked. The rent increase was huge, and I was worried about how the financial burden would affect my family.

"So after closing for the day on September 21, I went home and made the decision that I wouldn't open again. I didn't tell any of my loyal customers, which I feel absolutely terrible about."

Since that day Steve has been struggling over his decision.

"I miss the shop so much. I keep going back to look at it. And I wake up in the middle of the night thinking what a big mistake I made"

"I've also bumped into a lot of my former customers who want me to open it up again."

Steve's family have been in the pie and mash business for 40 years. His father, Terry, now 70, and late grandfather, John, opened their first shop in Walthamstow, before relocating to Barking ten years later.

"My granddad and dad decided they wanted to move their business to Barking because in those days Barking was the place to be. They also discovered the area didn't have a traditional pie and mash shop.

"They found a lovely place in London Road, across the road from where the shop is now, and just before they were about to open the doors they both looked out of the window and noticed what they thought was a long bus queue. But it wasn't a bus queue - it was people waiting to buy their pies!

"My dad and granddad were gobsmacked and they had to shut early that day because they ran out of food."

Steve says the shop, which the family moved to its current premises 15 years ago, has been a meeting point for many of the borough's residents.

"It was a great place for people to sit down and have a bit of a chinwag. There was always such a great atmosphere.

"I would love to open it up again, but I need to know the support is out there."

If you want Steve to open his pie and mash shop contact the POST on 0208 477 3893.