A MILLIONAIRE entrepreneur has invested in a slice of Bradford on Avon pie business Eat Square, months after it faced closure following a legal battle.

Eat Square owner Alex Joll has sold 40 per cent of his company to Alfie Best, the owner of Wyldecrest Parks, who is said to be worth £200m.

Following negotiations that began last summer, Mr Joll has finally secured the lucrative investment from one of the UK’s largest park home operators.

“It is fantastic news and to sign off for it was extremely pleasing,” said Mr Joll, who began the business in October 2014. “I am really excited to be working with Alfie. He leads from the front with a truly inspiring enthusiasm.”

Since the investment was finalised the company has hired two new staff members, bought new equipment and invested in its own production facility.

By the end of the year, its aim is to increase the team to 10 and to puff up its production of 500 pies a week to 500 a day.

“The pies are really amazing,” said Mr Best. “They have that nostalgic feeling of childhood in each single bite.

“I believe that when you love what you do and when you know what you’re doing, you have some of the most important keys to succeed in your hands – and Alex does know exactly what he’s doing and he loves it.”

18 months on from the Bradford on Avon resident’s humble beginnings, being taught how to make shortcrust pasty by his grandma before going onto make his own pies in his parents’ kitchen, this time next year Mr Joll’s company could be make him a millionaire.

“I think we are a bit off of that, but if you look at Pieminister they have gone onto have great success and I think we can aim for that too,” he said.

“Most people don’t know about this deal but those that do have been very supportive. When you’re working at farmers' markets and producing out of your own kitchen, you never expect this.”

Mr Joll has just released his new gluten free pies, which are available in Bradford on Avon’s Budgens.

Mr Joll has endured a tumultuous few months, following London-based Pie firm, Square Pie, threatening to sue him if they didn’t change their name - a matter that appears to be drawing to a positive conclusion.

“I cannot say much but I can say we are very close to a settlement and it looks hopeful,” said Mr Joll, who works out of his company’s kitchen at Woolley Grange Farm.

“It has been a very difficult time with the legal battles, possibly having to pay thousands and fearing for the worst. We’ve never had any money behind us but to get this is fantastic and gives us that breathing space.

“I used to be in the same industry as Alfie, he was on my extended contact list. I put out a speculative message to get them involved and he loved it. He gets pitched ideas all the time so for us to get picked is a real honour. It’s not a bad way to start the year.”