A POPULAR Haddington restaurant – a long-standing supporter of community events – has shut its doors.

The Waterloo Bistro, on the town’s Poldrate, closed on March 29.

Paul Kinnoch, proprietor of the business for the past six years and chairman of the town’s business association, was saddened to see the restaurant close.

Before opening the Waterloo Bistro, Paul and his wife Ann ran the town’s Tyneside Tavern for many years.

Now they are about to launch a new venture, the Amisfield Bistro at Haddington Golf Club, which opens on Monday.

The bistro will be situated in the upper level of the clubhouse and overlooking the golf course and East Lothian.

On the Waterloo Bistro, he said: “We had issues with the flooding and business insurance.

“Unfortunately, we lost our music licence last February, which took away quite a bit of business for us.

“At the end of the day, it was time to move on and concentrate on the Amisfield Bistro.” Andrew Vaughan, who owns the restaurant, told the Courier there was no one lined up at present to take over the restaurant but he was hopeful of it re-opening in the future.

Ward councillor John McMillan, council spokesman for economic development and tourism, was disappointed to see the Waterloo Bistro shut.

He said: “It’s been a real centre of so much activity in the town – the Trad on the Tyne festival, the pipe band when they came across from Aubigny, AGMs for companies and organisations.

“It’s going to be a big miss for the town. So many folk have had happy evenings there.” Meanwhile, a relaunch party takes place at the town’s Waterside Bistro next Thursday (May 7) at 7.30pm.

After one year at the Waterside, manager Louise Williams and head chef Jonny Dunbar have announced that they have signed a lease to become the new owners.