THE independent brewers at The Gothenburg in Prestonpans are taking over the lease of the premises in a move which will secure its future.

Talks over the future of the pub have been ongoing since owner Gordon Prestoungrange announced plans to take a back seat from the business.

He offered the community the chance to buyout the business before considering putting it up for sale.

But a surprise bid by brewers Kentwood Brewing, which took over the running of the pub’s in-house microbrewery in April, has led to a new deal being agreed.

Sean Wood, Kentwood director and brewer, said he and business partner Lewis Kent were delighted to be able to sign a lease for the whole pub.

He said: “It was always our intention to grow our company but we see this as an exciting opportunity to have an exceptional shop front for our quality produce, whilst also allowing us to showcase East Lothian’s significant role in the brewing industry.

“We deliberately chose East Lothian as our home so as to be closer to the fields where our barley is grown and to create a truly local product that we believed would have significant appeal to audiences way beyond the region.”

The new managers plan to keep the current team of staff in place to run The Goth.

Owner Dr Prestoungrange said: “It’s a great outcome for my family and myself. Sean and Lewis will continue working with the existing staff and bring great energy to further developing The Goth in line with its traditional community sharing principles since 1908.

“They deserve all the support we all can give them – and I’m sure we will do just that.”

Last week, the pub was granted a change to its current licence to allow off-sales and online sales for the brewery. It was also permitted to extend Sunday opening hours to open at 11am instead of the current time of 12.30pm.

East Lothian Licensing Board was told the pub aimed to promote the beers created at the micro-brewery.

Carol Black, who runs the High Street pub, said: “We get a lot of tourists in who are walking the John Muir Way, or they’re driving, and it’s just to give them a chance to buy some of the beers and take them away.”

Councillor Willie Innes, ward member, said the pub was “an important part of the community”.

He added: “It is a really high-quality establishment.

“They are trying to diversify and I applaud them for what they are trying to achieve here.”

Councillor Fraser McAllister added: “The export of food and drink is something we are trying to do more in East Lothian so I am totally in support of this.

“It is a hub of enterprise.”

Councillor Tom Trotter, meanwhile, said the scheme was “a valuable asset to the community” and wished Carol and the team well.