East Lothian Courier | News | Derelict hotel could become flats or bistro

Thursday, 8th January, 2009

Published: Thursday, 13th November, 2008 07:20

Derelict hotel could become flats or bistro

A DERELICT hotel in Musselburgh could get a new lease of life if East Lothian Council smoothes the route for a potential £1million-plus makeover.

The Musselburgh Arms, on High Street, has been targeted by Edinburgh-based company, Kandoo Properties, for major refurbishment.

It has applied for change of use to convert the former hotel in to a pub and five flats.

Gary Reid, director of Kandoo, said he hoped the plans would be welcomed.

“It has been lying there for a while and I’m sure the residents would like something to be done to it,” he said.

Mr Reid said that the ‘pub‘ element of the application would in reality be a coffee shop or bistro, trading on the basis of 9am-5pm.

“I don’t think Musselburgh needs another pub so a coffee shop would be ideal for the town,” he said.

The 14 or 15 hotel rooms above the old bar would be converted into affordable flats with planning go-ahead, he added. He hoped work could start early in the new year.

Irene Tait, who chairs Musselburgh Community Council, said: “The Musselburgh Arms has been locked up for years so I think if it was to be opened up again it could only improve the area.”

Alan Hay, vice-chairman agreed.

“It has been closed for about two or three years and is a bit of an eyesore now,” he said.

“If it was going to be turned into premises that would create homes and jobs, then that would be great news.”

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