Here at Manto HQ, we are always pushing ourselves that little bit more. That’s why we have launched Manto+, our YouTube channel showing the team’s personal test projects.  Don’t get us wrong, we love making videos for our clients; but this channel is to show you even more of our creativity and flair. A little extra, if you like.

Our team philosophy is simple: if you’ve got a good idea, let’s make it.  

This gives us the freedom to try out new ideas, experiment and learn from one another. It gives us the opportunity to amplify awareness about issues we feel deeply passionate about such as the refugee crisis, mental health, and animal cruelty. We make these videos to make you stop. And think.

Did you know…

• Viewers retain 95 per cent of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to 10 per cent when reading it in text
• By 2020 online videos will make up more than 80 per cent of all consumer Internet traffic
• In an average month, 8 out of 10 18-49 year-olds watch YouTube

YouTube has over a billion users and is a great way to tell your brand’s story and drive sales. Manto Films can help your business engage and move your audience. Subscribe to our Manto+ channel as we will be uploading fresh content.

Our friendly team of experts can work with you to build video into your marketing strategy. We’ve worked alongside some of the big brands like Bettys, TPP, and Schweppes. We create compelling content that people remember that you can use across all of your digital channels – website, social and e-marketing.

MANTO FILMS -­ EDITOR/CAMERA OPERATOR JOB OPPORTUNITY

What we’re looking for:
This is an exciting opportunity for a creative and enthusiastic individual with a real passion for the filmmaking process and a head for business, to come in and help the company continue to grow. The role will primarily be split between post ­production (editing, grading, motion graphics) and production (camera operating, camera assisting, sound recording). But beyond that we want someone who can contribute creatively to our projects; who can work closely with our clients; who can help out on shoots when the need arises; who can help with the day to day running of the company where required. We work as a team and everyone is given the opportunity to contribute ideas, and to bring their ideas to fruition.
For us ability wins out over qualifications every time. If you can show us that you have a real gift for filmmaking and that you’re hardworking and enterprising, then don’t worry about not having the right qualification.

About Manto Films:
We’re a team of experienced filmmakers who craft compelling stories for brands you’ve heard of. We’re creative, responsive and genuinely in love with film – and with a background in television, we make content that people remember. Our work is hugely varied; we work with organisations ranging from Bettys Tea Rooms and Yorkshire Tea to Age UK and The Refugee Council, from G4S to Schweppes.

How we work is based around our values. They are:
Be kind
Building strong relationships with our clients and within our team is key. To do this we strive to be trustworthy, to act with integrity, to display professionalism, to be present, to ask for and offer help, and to create a great experience for our clients.

Be brave
We are driven by creativity and a genuine love for what we do. We are risk-takers; we produce work that is innovative and daring. We have the courage to try new things and are not afraid to make mistakes.

Be humble
We have confidence that we produce fantastic work but we have the humility to recognise our imperfections, and so are always striving to learn and improve. We are inspired by other companies and their work, not driven by negative or competitive comparison.

Required Skills:
– Strong working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects
– Camera/sound/lighting training or experience, incorporating a range of equipment.­
– Familiarity with working on Macs
– Good understanding of the online film and video market

Salary:
Basic Salary £18 -­ £20k (depending on experience)

How do I apply?
Drop us an email to info@mantofilms.com, which must include the following:
– Full CV ­
– Showreel link (video files not accepted so please upload to YouTube/Vimeo)­
– The following information: Driving Licence Y/N, Own Car Y/N, Availability to start ­
– A video of yourself answering the following questions:
– Why are you suitable for the role?
– Why do you want the job?
– What is your favourite film and why?

**PLEASE NOTE, APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT THIS VIDEO**

Closing date for applications 5pm Friday 30th November 2018

We all need refuge. Who will be theirs?

Imagine being forced to leave your home to escape war, rape and torture.
Imagine leaving your loved ones behind in search for a ‘safe’ place.
Imagine arriving in a new country. Alone.

For most of us, this sounds unimaginable.

That’s why Lizzy, our producer/director, made the film ‘Refuge’ as her personal test project.

Lizzy says “The current refugee crisis is the worst of our generation – we are at a point of having more displaced people around the world than in the aftermath of the Second World War.

I think it is really easy to remove ourselves from the reality of this. We can become numb to the images we see, it can feel too much to comprehend. However, for so many people around the world the fear of persecution, torture and death is their reality; one they have no choice but to live in every day.

I wanted to create something that helped people engage with this reality. I particularly wanted to communicate that these people fleeing their homes are no different to you and me, they just find themselves living in a different situation. I’m sure we can all relate to the emotions of fear, loneliness, isolation, anxiety, panic.

This film draws upon common human emotions that we have all experienced and asks the question ‘how are you going to respond?’.

The process of making this film was really great. It led to a lot of great conversations with lots of different people and even in the making of it got people thinking about the part we can all play in responding to the refugee crisis.

My favourite scene to film was the one with the den. Who doesn’t love building a den? We should do this more as adults! The kids loved being involved and it was a great opportunity to shoot some really nice, considered shots.

Filming in the wind, rain and snow was definitely a challenge and the actors were absolute troopers. A huge thank you to those guys – the cold was very painful at times.”

Manto Films was proud to gain support from The Refugee Council – the leading charity in the UK working directly with refugees and asylum seekers. They Tweeted our video to their 50k followers with this powerful message:

“A staggering 68.5 million people were forcibly displaced in 2017. Of these 25.4 million were forced to flee home & become #refugees & 3.1 million people still wait to be granted #refuge.”

We are currently working with the Refugee Council and the United Nations on a project about preparing Syrian refugees for life in the UK. Visit our Manto+ YouTube channel to view ‘Refuge’ and to watch more of the team’s test projects.

With Leeds Manufacturing Festival taking place this October, we wanted to share the making of their recent videos that we produced for them. Not only that, we want to shout about the amazing work that they do: bringing greater awareness of the thriving manufacturing industry in Leeds and the range of career opportunities within manufacturing that this offers.

They aim to inspire the next generation to not sit at a desk all day and get busy making.  From moulding fibreglass to building jukeboxes, these young people are given an opportunity to grow their confidence and shine.

The Brief

To make a series of videos aimed at young people, to promote the brilliant career opportunities within Leeds’ vibrant manufacturing scene.

The Pitch

The key element in developing our pitch was the target audience. These videos were to be aimed at 12 to 16-year-olds who are just starting to think about careers. This age group is very video savvy (they live on YouTube) so we knew that a standard format corporate video was never going to reach them. These were the key elements that we pitched to the LMF:

1. Fast-paced, energetic videos
2. Clear and simple messaging
3. Visual flamboyance to the filming and editing style to grab the audience’s attention

The filmmaking

In order to show the range of manufacturing businesses in Leeds we filmed in six different companies whose products range from fibreglass sewage tanks to surgical equipment and from fish and chip fryers to vinyl jukeboxes. It really was a privilege to get to visit these fantastic businesses and meet the people inside them. Watching the mind-blowing processes that go into making these products gave us so much visual material to work with.

The Challenge

The biggest hurdle was also our biggest opportunity; preconceptions. People think of manufacturing as being about heavy, grimy work in dark, dirty places. The reality is often a million miles away from this, and we loved being able to bring this to life through film.

The Takeaway

The biggest thing we learned from this project was that manufacturing in Leeds really is alive and kicking. There are over 1800 manufacturing companies in Leeds, and the job opportunities they offer young people are exciting and diverse. We are so glad to have had the chance to bring this message to young people. I showed the first video to my 12-year-old son and his response was “that looks like a cool job”. Job done!

The Testimonials

“The team at Manto took time to understand our requirements and were great guys to work with. As we all know, planning is fine, but without action it is useless. When the filming started Manto put everyone at ease and the results were fantastic; a finished film appealing to different generations, that was sharp, professional and fun. I would highly recommend their services and having benchmarked their costs getting initial quotes, we know how happy we are with the finished results and the value they delivered.”

Ben Wilson – MD of MPM Bradford Ltd

“I was part of the team that commissioned Manto Films to produce a series of videos supporting the Leeds Manufacturing Festival. I could not be happier with the outcome. Their professionalism and energy during the filming and their subsequent editing skills mean we now have a set of videos that are not only better than we envisaged, they have been met with universal acclaim by those who have seen them.”

Graham Cooper – Site Manager, Agfa Graphics

Manto Films are a team of experienced filmmakers who craft compelling stories for brands you’ve heard of. We need a helping hand to help us deliver the best possible service to our clients, so we are looking for a freelance editor to come and help us out for a minimum of 2 weeks, with the possibility of a longer stay.

This is an ideal opportunity for a graduate with the basic skills, but not tons of experience. We will work alongside you, give you an insight into the workings of a busy production company, and we make a decent brew. There may also be some opportunities to help us out on shoots if you’re interested. You’ll need to have a good working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro CC, and a good understanding of online content production.

We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible, so if you’re interested please send your CV with a showreel, and a covering letter letting us know what you could bring to our team to info@mantofilms.com.

Manto Films are a team of experienced filmmakers who craft compelling stories for brands you’ve heard of. We need a helping hand to help us deliver the best possible service to our clients, so we are looking for a freelance editor to come and help us out for a minimum of 2 weeks, with the possibility of a longer stay.

This is an ideal opportunity for a graduate with the basic skills, but not tons of experience. We will work alongside you, give you an insight into the workings of a busy production company, and we make a decent brew. There may also be some opportunities to help us out on shoots if you’re interested. You’ll need to have a good working knowledge of Adobe Premiere Pro CC, and a good understanding of online content production.

We are looking for someone to start as soon as possible, so if you’re interested please send your CV with a showreel, and a covering letter letting us know what you could bring to our team to info@mantofilms.com.

To celebrate and tell us more about it, we put Manto Films’ gaffer, Paul, in the hot seat.

Who are Manto Films?

First and foremost we’re a team of filmmakers who love the work that we do. We get excited about telling great stories and bringing ideas to life. We’re creative, responsive and genuinely in love with film. For us, it’s important that we make content that people remember.

What is Manto about?

Manto’s come a long way in nine years. From a one-man band to a small team of creatives (and Reggie the dog), who are driven by the same values –  passion, commitment and flair. As a team, we have the courage to try new things and are not afraid to make mistakes. In our work, we get a buzz from challenging attitudes and making people think. Our office is a lively space in which we have the confidence to produce fantastic work.

Who do you shoot films for?

A mixed bag! In the main, we direct, shoot and produce commercial films for brands, charities, agencies, and companies. We’ve been lucky enough to work with Yorkshire Tea, Bettys, Arriva Buses, G4S and Foxtons. The team is encouraged to work on their own personal projects, producing films with no boundaries. That way, we can each inject a bit of our own personality into them. Check out Me vs Me and Not an Object.

Why did you decide to launch a new website?

We wanted something new, fresh and innovative to represent who we are and what we’re about. Our new showreel shows the breadth of work that we do and in turn, offers a better experience for our clients. We think it’s awesome and we hope that you do too!

What did you learn along the way?

That everyone has an opinion if you ask! And a valued one at that. It’s been a real learning curve from start to finish and we are deeply proud of what we have accomplished.

Who designed & built your new website?

Outpost in Leeds. We’re proud of our northern roots and wanted to partner with local website experts Josh and Jamie. They’ve worked as an extended part of our team and delivered a high spec website to our brief and on budget. They’re top-notch.

What new features are there?

One of our favourite features was the new, revolving 3D logo. It’s taken Manto’s brand to another level. Another little quirk is that you can view our website in night mode (just click the circle on the left-hand corner). Hours and hours of fun.

mantofilms.com

Here at Manto we are thoroughly enjoying the relatively new Delta Airlines advert from Wieden + Kennedy New York.

The composition of every shot has been beautifully and creatively structured to give the impression of a plane going down a runway. This is complimented by a perfectly pitched script, executed by Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis. The combination of both making for an incredibly simple yet expressive piece of film.

I particularly love the message of chasing adventure and taking risks all encompassed in the quote, “Good things come to those who go.”

So go. Have a watch, be inspired.

One last thing. It’s one of those adverts where you keep discovering more through repeated viewings, so be sure to watch it a few times!

We have!

Delta – Runways

Since developing an interest in filmmaking I’ve always had a great admiration for the art of editing. Being able to take the individual parts of a shot sequence and structuring them in a particular way can provoke a various range of emotions within the viewer and help build a desired narrative and feel.

Video editors are often overlooked as their work isn’t always immediately apparent to audiences. In an interview with Variety, editor Joel Cox (American Sniper) explained that “a great edit is the one you don’t see”, meaning the viewer is left to be fully immersed in the film without distraction. On the other hand, there are times when editing can draw attention to itself to help accentuate emotions and atmosphere. Choosing when and how to use these techniques boils down to the intricate art of visual storytelling.

Here are a few of my favourite examples when it comes to the art of editing in film.

Requiem for a Dream (2000)

The editing in Requiem for a Dream breaks standard rules to help drive a story of addiction and the reckless desperation and delusion that can come as a result. The cutting style depicts an increasing momentum to the point of losing control and as such the viewers are made to go through the same anguish as the characters. Standard 90 minute films can expect around 600-700 cuts however, due to the choppy and erratic pace, Requiem for a Dream leads to an excess of 2000. At the beginning of the film each scene averages 90 seconds to 2 minutes but by the end they become fleeting moments of jumbled imagery that disorientate the viewer. Other great techniques, such as the Hip-hop montages that represent the drug use throughout the film, quickly represents the buzz each of the characters are getting from their high as they slowly fall into their addictions.

Requiem for a Dream – Hip-hop Montage

Another notable scene – As Harry and Marion lie in bed together a split screen effect is used to possibly represent not only intimacy but the fabricated closeness between them. See here.

Whiplash (2014)

The emphasis of perfect timing is echoed constantly throughout Whiplash. Cuts are in time with the music and suspense is built around punctuality. The music instructor and antagonist, Fletcher, controls the timing of his band but seemingly dictates the tempo of the film by the way he manipulates the protagonist Andrew. Perhaps the most memorable scene see’s Fletcher getting increasingly angrier with Andrew for being out of sync with the band and hurling a chair at him. The editing in this scene helps build the perfect tension that leaves the audience feeling suitably uncomfortable by Fletcher’s terrifying teaching methods.

Whiplash – Not Quite My Tempo

The emphasis on time becomes an obsession by the end of the movie, with Andrew breaking up with his girlfriend to dedicate himself wholly to practicing his drumming. The final scene show’s Andrew finally earning Fletcher’s approval when he puts on an exceptional drum solo. Again, the editing helps create the scene as fast cuts replicate the energy of the music as well as the change in relationship between the two main characters.

Whiplash – Final Scene, Drum Solo

City of God (2002)

City of God is a brilliant film in many ways, not least by the way in which it represent favela life in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. A frantic opening scene of daily life helps introduce us to the protagonist as he is caught between a leisurely walk with his friend and a gang chasing a chicken that has escaped being killed for a meal. The storytelling and editing here help establish many of the film’s ideologies and themes – including the hectic lifestyle that can often lead to young people’s lives being cut short and the need for escape whilst constantly being chased by your surroundings. The chicken is very much a metaphor for the main character Rocket.

City of God – The Chicken Chase

There are more than 50 highly visual cuts in the first 30 seconds and these are mostly closeups. This not only adds to the chaotic tone but leaves the viewer with a feeling of claustrophobia, another theme that is synonymous with favela life. Another editing technique, the Kuleshov Effect, is used as the editor cuts back and forth between shots of the chicken and the meal being prepared. This interaction between the two shots helps the audience identify with the chicken and the horror he envisions.

Saving Private Ryan (1998)

There are many reasons why Saving Private Ryan is an extraordinary feat of filmmaking, with many critics claiming it to be the most realistic representation of war on screen. The combination of incredible performances on camera to the teams behind the production gave Steven Spielberg the perfect canvas to express his filmmaking prowess. When paying closer attention to the editing we can see a number of great techniques that support this artistic direction, particularly in the opening Omaha Beach scene.

The storming of Omaha Beach at the beginning of the film has been credited with being one of the most accurate portrayals of a WW2 battle. Much of the camera work was shot with the shutter open at 45 and 90 degree angles thus causing a staccato to actor’s movements and an added realism to explosions. Other techniques that added streaking, shakiness and doubling up the frame rate of 12fps to 24fps helped create an uncomfortable and edgy atmosphere that required editor Michael Kahn to craft a story out of footage that no editor had ever been presented with before.

Saving Private Ryan – Storming Omaha Beach

Pulp Fiction (1994)

When I think of Pulp Fiction I think of endless quotes, unforgettable characters and ultimately one of the coolest films ever made. Tarantino is a master of creating entertaining conversation and editor Sally Menke does a fantastic job of editing scenes that would fall flat without the right pace to build tension. Being able to understand the complex chronology of the film whilst also tying in the numerous subplots happening alongside the main story required and editor that could make sense of it all and understand Tarantino’s creative direction. They worked together on many great films including Inglorious Bastards (2009) and the Kill Bill two-parter (2003-2004) until her untimely death in 2010. Many people point to the famous “what does Marsellus Wallace look like?” scene as their favourite but for me, because of the amazing tension the editing builds, I’d have to say my favourite is the one below.

Pulp Fiction – A Shot of Adrenaline

After watching an advert or video online, it’s easy to look past all the work and decisions that went into making it. It requires a ton of work from many different people, inputting their ideas at certain points. Here at Manto, we’re passionate about creating videos that engage with audiences, however we understand video can seem daunting and a scary prospect.

Great, you’ve decided that video is the medium that you want to use!

Now what?

Firstly, define your objective. It might be to promote a product, job vacancies, tell a story or entertain your audience. Write down the rough objective in a sentence or two.

Secondly, you might, or might not have an idea of how you want to achieve this objective. We are more than happy to brainstorm and create some concepts, but are equally happy to work to a brief. We’d recommend doing some video research online of competitors and companies out of your sector for inspiration. Video is subjective, and examples can give us a clear idea of what you like and don’t like. We’ll also discuss the best platform to distribute the film, which also helps to target your audience.

Thirdly, get in contact with us! We’d love to hear from you. Even if all you have is your objective, we can help expand this with you.

Next we’ll meet with you, explain further of the process we’re both about to embark on together. We’ll talk you through and help you think about who your audience is, the objective for the video, and most importantly come up with some creative ideas. We’ll have done some research on your company and your competitors online, and tried to gather an overview of the brand.

Once we agree what is required, we’ll send across a quote detailing exactly what we’ll deliver and what’s included in the price. If you’re happy, we can start moving forward with the pre-production phase of the process. During this stage, we’ll be booking shoot dates, looking at locations, casting (if required). Scripting and storyboarding is something additional that we can offer to give yourselves or other decision makers a clear idea of the plan.

On the shoot day, we understand that it can be daunting, but we believe in making the shoot day as fun as possible for all. Ultimately everyone enjoying the shoot will result in a better video! Depending on the shoot, it’s really helpful to have you there to help with any decisions on the day, but sometimes we’re more than comfortable completing the shoot and letting you know our progress.

The post production process is where the video really comes to life. There are many different elements to this stage including voice-over, music, editing style and grading that really gives the project energy.  We’ve implemented a 2 rounds of amends with every project which helps give the video a deadline. There will be many people wanting to input their opinions, and we’d recommend one person taking charge of this feedback.

Once you are happy with the project, we’ll send across a download link for you to upload to YouTube, Facebook, Instagram. We’re more than happy to work with you on this, and guide you through it to all the different platforms with accessibility considered.

Now you know how commissioning a video works, and the processes involved, why not get in contact? We’d love to hear from you and help guide you through the process.

How long should my video be?

We would suggest that video length is dependent on output. For example, a promotional video that will be placed on your social media should be as short as possible, with normally a maximum length of 60 seconds. However, other videos for use within your company, for training or other purposes, could be longer. We would say the main thing is always keeping in mind that the audience needs to be engaged – the length of video plays a major part in this.

Do I need to provide a clear visual idea?

We have worked with a number of clients who did not initially have a clear visual idea. That’s where we come in! As a team, we have a wealth of experience and will work with you to understand your audience and offer creative suggestions and ideas. Equally, we are used to and enjoy working with clients who have very clear visual ideas.

How do I get a quote for a video?

Every video is unique. Therefore, the best thing to do is give us a call or send us an email. We would be really interested in speaking with you to find out a little more about what you are wanting. Once we have agreed on a brief, we can give you a quote with a break down of costs.

Can you use and edit footage shot by ourselves/other companies?

We often find that it is easier for our clients if they come to us for both pre and post production, meaning we do both the filming and editing. However, we understand sometimes this can’t be possible and so we are more than happy to do so.

How will I receive the final video and what format will it be in?

We will send you the final version of the video through a downloadable link on WeTransfer.

The technical specifications will be as follows:

Resolution: 1920 x 1080 FullHD

File Type: Mp4, h264 codec

We can provide alternatives if requested.

How long is the usual production process?

This can vary hugely depending what the project will involve and what your time scale is.

What is the normal process for producing a film?

We will always try to be clear in communicating every step of the production process with you. The normal process looks at working with you in agreeing on a brief and writing a treatment that presents a clear concept and approach to the project, along with writing a script and storyboard, if they are needed. We will then decide on a shoot date with you and following this will try to deliver the first version of the video within 7-12 working days.

Can I give input into how the film is edited?

Each video has two rounds of amends included in the cost. Once we have completed the first draft, we will send it to you via a private link on vimeo. You can feedback any amends by commenting on the video in Vimeo, emailing or giving us a call. This process happens twice, after which we will send you the final version.

There’s a song I really like, can we use it in the video?

In video production, music can play a key role in communicating your message. Therefore, we like to work closely with you in deciding upon a style and making sure the right music is chosen. Sometimes we are able to use a requested song, however often this can be expensive for the client due to license fees! As a result, we often use music tracks from a royalty-free music track website and, if desired, can provide various suggestions of music tracks.

Will it be ready tomorrow?

We always want to make sure we produce the best for our clients. Turnarounds could vary depending on the project but generally is between 7-12 working days after the shoot date. We will always confirm with you what that turnaround will be and if you have a specific deadline, we will try our best to help achieve this.

It’s the most wonderful time of year again – no not Christmas, Mince Pie season! For us at Manto, this started as soon as they hit the shelves in early November. Since then we’ve been scoffing them on a near daily basis and are proud to bring you our top 11 Mince Pies (we chose an odd number just to annoy Director Paul).

Before we get started it’s worth mentioning the early dilemma we faced. Our very own Lizzy gave a look of disgust when presented with the first mince pie and this threatened to hinder the very important research we were about to undertake. Nevertheless, a few days of force feeding soon changed that and we had a full team of hungry experts keen to seek out the best mince pies our local shops were offering. So, counting down from 11, here’s our top selection for 2017…

1. Co-Op (Fresh Baked) – Based near our office is a Co-Op supermarket and this proved a good start for various pies that appear on our list. However, the Co-Op freshly baked range did not go down well. A mix of dubious crunchy filling and subpar pastry left us struggling to finish this pie and the whole ordeal was quite an upsetting experience. If you want to see a grown man/woman crying whilst eating a mince pie then go for these and look in the mirror.

2. Sainsbury’s Taste The Difference, All Butter Pastry – Let me tell you, from appearances these bad boys look decent. A fancy star pattern on top and the idea of a deep fill buttery crust got us drooling but problems soon start to arise about halfway through the pie. Matt experienced an unusual crunchiness midway through and was left wondering if he’d lost a tooth. Random crunchiness = disappointing pie.

3. Tesco (packeted)  – Mince pies can vary so much depending on occasion and the overall consensus here is that this is a good everyday pie. Nothing to shout about but not much to complain about really. The Ford Escort of pies.

4. Co-Op (packeted) – Where Co-Op lets itself down with fresh pies it makes up in packeted ones. Another good every day pie but with a little extra taste in the filling than Tesco.

5. Aldi Speciality – Amongst the random array of unbranded goods and home appliances you’ll find Aldi’s take on the classic mince pie. Again, another good standard of pie but they also offered some new and exciting flavours such as salted caramel. After trying these we had mixed feelings and decided that they were too different to be considered for our humble chart. Lizzy particularly enjoyed them because they didn’t really taste of mince pie.

6. Mr Kipling – Ah Mr Kipling. The purveyor of sugary treats. These were eaten early on in our research and held a high position for quite some time. Like most of the Mr Kipling range they are delicious and go down nicely with a cup of Yorkshire Tea.

7. Greggs – Greggs offers the best fresh chain shop mince pies you can get and have the added bonus of also offering pasties. A Festive Bake and a sausage roll followed by a mince pie? That’s lunch sorted! (mmm heartburn).

8. Rolfey’s (actually Anna’s) – Matt likes to take credit for puns and jokes he has actually found on Google. The sneaky bugger also takes credit for mince pies that he didn’t actually make! Anna’s (Matt’s wife) mince pies have a crumbly thick layer of pastry and a deliciously subtle taste to the filling. This got top marks from Lizzy as she hates the ‘middle bit’ and we all agreed that these easily trumped many of the supermarket ones.

9. Tesco Finest (with a hint of cognac) – As we reach what we call the ‘Podium of Pies’ we really begin to distinguish the difference between a good pie and a great pie. Tesco Finest Mince Pies have the added bonus of cognac which means if you eat enough you will certainly have a merry Christmas (or be violently ill). These pies got approving noises from all of us whilst we had our mouths full and it was agreed the flavour was top of the line whilst the pastry was light and crumbly. Simply lovely.

10. M&S – Marks and Sparks proving here that you get what you pay for with mince pies. Paying a more premium price (I think they we’re around £1.80 for 6) gets you a truly delicious pie that is tough to rival. If you have guests round this Christmas then these puppies are definitely worth pushing the boat out for. Quality soft pastry with a filling that leaves you craving more.

11. Crust & Crumb – The King of Pies. Now, we are biased here because Crust & Crumb are a short walk from our office in North Leeds and as far as I’m aware this is their only cafe. However, these pies are worth travelling for let me tell you. With great power comes great cost though and these will certainly leave you out of pocket this christmas if you buy too many. At £1.75 a pie these were easily our priciest pie and, to put that in perspective, the cost of 4 pies from here would have gotten us almost 42 Greggs mince pies (mmm 42 mince pies). Everything about these mince pies was just sensational and Crust & Crumb are worthy winners of our coveted Manto Pie Chart. Well done – please can we have freebies for further research?

So there we have it. We hope you enjoyed reading our painstaking research. Eating so many pies has been tough on our waistlines and with Christmas looming there are no signs of it easing up. Let us know if there’s any you think we missed out and if there’s any people we should avoid.

Until next Christmas my fellow mince pie connoisseurs!