IT IS the dish that every butcher strives to perfect – and this year Scotland's ultimate steak pie has been tracked down to the Ayrshire town of Coylton.

Prime Cuts Butchers has been hailed as the maker of the best Traditional Steak Pie in Scotland after their tasty meaty pastry lifted the coveted Diamond status in the Scottish Craft Butchers Awards 2019.

Delighted owner John Kennedy (49) said it was the belief that the family firm makes the best pie in the country that prompted him to enter the nationwide awards for the very first time.

"I knew we made something special," he said, "but to lift the top accolade with our first ever entry is just fantastic – we are over the moon!"

John, who heads a chain of four Prime Cuts Butchers shops in south Ayrshire, revealed that the recipe for the award-winning pie has been carried in his head since he was taught how to 'create perfection' at the hands of his old mentor when he was just 18-years-old.

"Each of our other Prime Cuts shops in Ayr, Mauchline and Cumnock make their own pies to that same recipe," said John, "but we obviously have that special magic touch here at Coylton."

John comes from local farming stock and it was on the family farm that he learned the value of prime beef.

"There is nowhere to hide with a steak pie," he said. "If you don't use the very best of beef, you won't get the best possible pie. We use 100% cubed prime Aberdeen Angus Cross shoulder steak and delicious gravy topped with an uncooked puff pastry lid," he explained. "Unlike many butchers, we sell our steak pies unfired as the first baking of the pastry is always the best."

Prime Cuts make and sell upwards of 800 steak pies every week but that demand soars to around 6000 in the run-up to New Year.

"It's the feast everyone looks forward to at New Year – it's part of our Scottish tradition," said John. "Many believe it's the ideal hangover cure while others claim it's an easy bake for the busy housewives at a hectic time of year. Either way, it's a key part of our business and to be able to say we make the best in Scotland is just terrific. It's a reward for all of us for the years of hard work that the team has put in and a salute to a 30-year-old recipe that's just topped the lot!"

Executive manager of Scottish Craft Butchers, Gordon King, confirmed Prime Cuts' pie was 'outstanding'.

"We had nearly 100 traditional steak pies entered in the bi-ennial awards from all across Scotland," he said. "That's a lot of pies for the judges to taste, but there was definitely something special about the winner that marked it out for the 2019/20 title.

"It was full, flavoursome, high quality meat and gravy, scrumptious golden flaky pastry and that indefinable 'something' that marked it out as the best in Scotland."

The other three Prime Cuts shops all lifted a Gold Award for their traditional steak pies. Coylton and Mauchline also earned a Gold Award for their mince rounds, while Ayr and Cumnock secured a Silver.