Proper beef, ale & mushroom pie

INGREDIENTS

• small handful dried porcini mushrooms (about 10g) - not essential but very tasty
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1kg braising steak (buy this as a whole piece and cut it yourself into large chunks)
• 2 large onions , roughly chopped
• 4 large carrots , chopped into large chunks
• 2 tsp golden caster sugar
• 4 tbsp plain flour
• 300ml dark ale
• 2 beef stock cubes mixed with 400ml boiling water
• small bunch each thyme , bay leaf and parsley, tied together
• 200g smoked bacon lardons, or chopped rashers
• 200g chestnut mushrooms , halved
• 650g plain flour , plus extra for dusting
• 250g lard or cold butter (or half of each), diced, plus extra for greasing
• 1 egg yolk , beaten, to glaze