A former East Lothian pub which has lain empty for more than a decade is set to reopen as a high end restaurant after being bought by its neighbours.
The Stand, on Musselburgh High Street, has been bought by the owners of neighbouring restaurant Parrilla.
A meeting of East Lothian Licensing Board today heard the new owners had already arranged a meeting with their architects at the building and hoped to begin work after Christmas.
The former pub’s premises licence was up for review after board members raised concerns previously that it had not sold alcohol for years.
However they were told that it had been sold in the last couple of weeks to the owners of the restaurant next door as they were asked to allow the premises licence to remain while an application to transfer it to the new owners was processed.
Alastair McDonald, representing the new owners Lothian Hospitality, told the board they ran Parrilla, as well as The Coronation restaurant in Gorebridge and three more eateries in Edinburgh.
A spokesperson for the new business said the plan was to turn it into a ‘high end restaurant using local ingredients sourced from the Borders and east coast.”
Councillor Lee-Anne Menzies, board member, welcomed the new that the building which she described as an ‘eyesore’ would be brought back into use.
She said: “That building has stood empty since 2014 when we were told it would be the jewel in the crown of Musselburgh. I really welcome the changes this will bring to the town because at the moment it is an eyesore and I want to thank you (new owners) for taking it on and investing in Musselburgh.”
Parrillas is a family run restaurant which specialises in Argentian grill using locally sourced ingredients opened in Musselburgh in 2017 with a second branch in Loanhead.
The family took over The Coronation In, in Gorebridge, last year.
Councillor John McMillan told the new owners: “I welcome the investment and wish you well.”
The board unanimously agreed to continue the premises licence.
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
