A WELL-KNOWN Edinburgh restaurateur is combining his two passions – a love of antiques and food – to open a new cafe with a balcony overlooking the River Esk in Musselburgh.

Franco Martone, who owns Bar Italia – one of the city’s oldest Italian restaurants – and Ciao Roma, has been given the green light by East Lothian Council’s planners to go ahead with transforming his existing premises, Musselburgh Auctions.

Situated in a former Baptist church hall at 163 High Street, the cafe plan for the building was approved a year ago.

READ MORE: Plans for cafe with riverside balcony lodged

But Mr Martone hoped to increase the seating area by creating an upper-floor level and external public terrace to take advantage of the premises’ riverside setting.

The saleroom and antique shop, which will continue to trade in the premises, are accessed through via a High Street close.

A planning statement issued by Edinburgh-based Format Design on behalf of Mr Martone said that the cafe would be open to the public, as well as servicing the needs of antique dealers and clientele.

It said: “It is intended to introduce more of a promenade feel along Eskside, which is presently considered to be a missed opportunity.

“At present, the street has a very ‘back door’ service area feel to it. Mr Martone proposes to introduce a more attractive frontage.

“It would create a very attractive place to sit and have a coffee, in particular on the balcony overlooking the Esk. This would have a positive impact on the town centre.”

Access will also be possible directly into the cafe.

As part of the plan, another upper mezzanine level will create a public gallery for the antique shop and auction room which will allow people to view the auctions.

Mr Martone is hoping to open the new cafe/bistro, which has seating for 120 people, as soon as possible and building warrants for the work are now being sought.

With a lifelong interest in antiques, he already has antique shops near Milan in Italy and in Slovakia.

He opened the Musselburgh antique and auction outlet a year ago and feels the combined cafe/bistro will provide “something new and different” in the Honest Toun. On sale will be home-made pasta and the award winning Martone ice-cream.

Mr Martone said: “We will be open all day, until around 10pm, and people can come in for tea, coffee and cake, or pasta and pizza, and breakfast.”

Customers will be able to eat off glass display tables which will contain small antique items for viewing.

“I have always loved antiques and opened my first restaurant in Edinburgh in 1982, so this is a business in one for me,” he enthused.

“Musselburgh is such a lovely place and the view of the River Esk is really beautiful.”