At Presence & Co., we pride ourselves on our work ethic, dedication, and ability to deliver top-notch services. But there’s one tradition that has become just as important as the work we do: our Annual Mince Pie Competition. What started as a small, fun event organised by the landscaping team has grown into one of the most anticipated days of the year, and this year’s competition did not disappoint!
The stakes were high as always, with the famous Golden Pinecone up for grabs. This spray-painted golden pinecone, created by the landscaping team all those years ago, has become a cherished trophy that is passed on each year to the winner. Alongside the iconic trophy, the winner also receives a Chelsea FC hospitality box – a prize that adds a little extra excitement to the competition!
Held just last week, the competition was once again a merry mix of excitement, friendly rivalry, and plenty of festive spirit. As always, the rules were simple: all pies were submitted anonymously, and the winner would walk away with a Chelsea FC hospitality box, perfect for football lovers. But like every good tradition, this year’s event was filled with a few surprises.
The Judges: Not Your Average Mince Pie Connoisseurs
This year, we were thrilled to have Harry Spencer, our company director along with Michael Puszyk, Chief Operating Officer and our CEO take on the role of judges for the mince pie competition. If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to be a top-notch mince pie judge, we can assure you—it’s a lot more serious than it sounds! With each pie carefully cut into quarters by Sheree Dawton, Managing Director, and a lot of serious discussions and deliberating.
However, no holiday tradition is complete without a little mischief. The competition had a few cheeky surprises this year, from a handful of “shop-bought” pies (which we can only assume were last-minute additions!) to one particularly daring entrant: mince pie ice cream. Yes, you read that right—someone made mince pie ice cream and submitted it as their entry. Needless to say, it didn’t make it past the judges’ discerning eyes and was disqualified on the grounds of, well, being a bit too outside the box!
The Winning Pies (and Some Unlikely Winners)
When the final decisions were made, the results were nothing short of surprising! For the first time in the competition’s history, we had a joint winner: Morgan Toole, our Admin Assistant, and Neil Underhill, a member of our landscaping team, who was the winner for the second time in a row and was the founding father of the mince pie competition all those years ago. Both walked away with the Chelsea FC hospitality box to share, and we’re sure they’ll enjoy their day out cheering on the team!
But it wasn’t just mince pies that kept the festive spirit alive this year. We also introduced a new competition—the mulled wine contest! Alex Mills, Sales & Lettings Negotiator emerged as the winner of this boozy battle, while Theo Hall, Estates Manager claimed second place. Whether it was the perfect balance of spices or just the right amount of warmth, Alex’s white mulled wine was the talk of the office, and we’ll be sure to remember this addition for next year. (Although, we do have to say Alex was a wine merchant before he joined us… So, we will let you decide if that’s cheating)
A Touch of Festive Mischief
Of course, no Presence & Co. event would be complete without a bit of festive mischief. It’s been said that the managing director may have attempted a little bribery to sway the judges. No names will be mentioned, but let’s just say that an extra mince pie may have made its way into the judging lineup, as well as some very convincing “suggestions” for the best pie. The judges, however, stayed true to their word and made their decisions based on nothing but the sheer quality of the pies and wine before them.
All in all, the competition was a resounding success, and as always, it’s about more than just the pies (or the wine). The annual event brings the team together, encourages a bit of healthy competition, and gives everyone a chance to show off their creativity and culinary skills. But most importantly, it’s a chance for all of us at Presence & Co. to share a laugh, celebrate the season, and build even more memories together.
Looking Ahead to Next Year
With the success of this year’s competition, we can’t help but wonder what next year will bring. Will there be more unexpected entries? Maybe an even more daring “outside the box” creation? Will we see more wine, or will the humble mince pie reign supreme? We can’t say for certain, but one thing’s for sure—this tradition isn’t going anywhere.
At Presence & Co., we’re proud of our work, but we’re equally proud of the culture we’ve built. It’s traditions like this one that make our company feel more like a family, and we look forward to keeping it going for years to come.
