UNITED AUCTIONS is working with an award-winning Perthshire pub to help locals keep their St Andrew’s Day celebrations alive with a free Scotch Lamb dinner to enjoy at home after the area was moved into Level Three restrictions last week.

The historic Kirkstyle Inn in Dunning was all set to welcome locals for a socially-distanced ‘Lamb for St Andrew’s Day’ celebration dinner in support of the campaign re-ignited by United Auctions last year to make Scotch Lamb synonymous with Scotland’s national day.

But under the new Covid protection level, which came into force on November 13, hospitality must close by six o’clock and the plans had to be cancelled, much to the dismay of Dunning residents.

In a bid to boost community spirit, United Auctions will donate locally-sourced Scotch Lamb to The Kirkstyle Inn in order to cook and give away ‘Lamb for St Andrew’s Day Friendship Pies’ to anyone in the community affected by current events.

Owner and proprietor of the country pub Jamie Harrison said: “Dunning is a small traditional village and venues like the pubs and the bowling club are a lifeline to many villagers. These new regulations essentially mean shutting down the village in the evening so, we’re doing our bit to keep spirits high and keep the celebrations going by giving everyone a hug from the inside with an 18-hour slow-cooked lamb shepherd’s pie with parmesan-crusted mash and crispy mint.”

Sheep auctioneer at UA, Peter Wood, said: “This is a great example of hospitality and agriculture working together to continue the St Andrew’s Day celebrations with locally-sourced lamb.”

The 2020 ‘Lamb for St Andrew’s Day’ campaign is a joint effort between Quality Meat Scotland, members of the Institute of Auctioneers and Appraisers in Scotland who are donating locally-sourced lamb across Scotland, the National Farmers’ Union Scotland and the National Sheep Association Scotland.