East Lothian pub which was closed following 'police incident' to reopen with new name

A village pub in East Lothian which was closed following a police incident is set to reopen under a new name.

The Masons Arms in Belhaven has undergone a full renovation and will be renamed The Brig and Barrel in a bid to distance itself from the "negative stigma" of its past.

The image transformation has resulted in it being turned into a family-friendly country pub.

There are plans for it to serve restaurant and bar meals, host receptions and club meetings, show televised sport and allow children and young people in.

The new pub will also increase capacity from 66 to 95 people and has an open horseshoe-shaped bar to allow staff clear sight of the bar area while open.

CCTV has been installed, along with security lighting at all exits and entrances.

East Lothian Council's licensing standards officer said in a report that the name change was sought to “take away some of the negative stigma associated with the previous activities linked with the premises known as the Masons Arms”.

The pub was at the centre of an incident last March when officers were called at 6.50am to deal with the aftermath of what is understood to have been a private function. Police did not release details of the incident but asked for a review of its licence.

The premises manager left and the pub closed, while new manager James Hughes unveiled plans for a £50,000 investment in the pub to transform it.

Mr Hughes, who previously ran Dunbar Golf Club, told the licensing board last July that he was preparing to sign a five-year-lease of the pub with its current owner in a deal which would allow him to buy it at the end of the lease.

He was allowed to take over the manager’s licence.

Now he is applying for a major variance in the premises’ licence which will allow it to serve restaurant and bar meals, host receptions, show televised sport and allow children inside.

The new licence would also see its opening hours extended from 11am to 11pm Monday to Thursday, with a 1am closing time on Fridays and Saturdays and midnight on Sundays.

And off-sales would be provided to “allow customers to take away an unfinished bottle of wine or take away a small carry out”.

Making the case for the new name and changes to its licence, Mr Hughes said: “The Brig & Barrel is bringing a community hub back to the area of Belhaven.

“The ‘country’ style pub will have many traditional pub features, with good local beer and home-cooked food.

“We will provide a much-missed social premises in Belhaven and have a lot of local support to expand the business to include good food.”

Police Scotland made no objections to the changes.

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