A NORTH Berwick pub which has been closed for six years is set to reopen following a significant investment.
The County Hotel on High Street will undergo an £850,000 renovation by the Heineken-owned Star Pubs and Discovery Group.
They also run The Ship Inn in North Berwick and have eight hotels and pubs across the central belt, including four in Edinburgh.
The East Lothian pub was permanently closed in the summer of 2019 and will be renamed The Law following refurbishment.
Discovery Group director Steven Winton, who will oversee The Law along with director Jamie MacKinnon, said: “We’re thrilled to have found another venue in North Berwick, especially one that is so prominent.
“People have been concerned about The County Hotel’s future and there’s lots of excitement about the plans for it.
“The town has a real sense of community and residents are very supportive. We want to bring out all The County Hotel’s potential and add to the diverse range of independently run hospitality businesses and shops that help make North Berwick such a special place”
Believed to have started as a post house in 1815, The Law is expected to open in early September and create around 25 new jobs.
The category C listed building will have its exterior painted dark green to match other buildings in the area, as well as having a 100-seat beer garden installed.
An interior makeover will see a new kitchen, toilets, and fixtures installed into the old building, as well as screens to show major sporting events. A pizza oven will be added into the back section of the pub, with 11 rooms also available to let.
The Law will be dog-friendly and bosses say ingredients for kitchen dishes will be sourced locally where possible, with dining menus set to change seasonally.
Jeremy Williams, Star Pubs area manager for East Lothian, said: “We’re delighted to be working with Steven and Jamie to reopen The County Hotel again after so long.
“They’ve got a reputation for outstanding food, drink and service and, with a successful pub in the town already, they understand what residents and North Berwick’s many visitors want.
“We’re giving the refurbishment the works; it’s a massive investment and The Law will look fantastic.”
