AMBITIOUS plans from a national pub chain to expand across East Lothian have been unveiled.

Three sites in the county – in Gullane, Haddington and Musselburgh – have been identified as potential locations for new Marston’s pubs/restaurants, with work on a hotel on the existing Pine Marten site at Dunbar also set to get under way within a matter of weeks.

The 27-bedroom hotel, next to the Pine Marten on the town’s Spott Road, will also be home to six new jobs.

Construction on the Marston’s Inn, the first of its kind in Scotland, will start next month, with an opening date pencilled in for October.

A spokeswoman for Marston’s said: “Plans are under way to build a hotel just off Spott Road behind our Pine Marten pub restaurant in Dunbar.

“We are delighted that work will start on the planned 27-bedroom project in May and we hope to open our doors to guests in the autumn.

“There will be opportunities for local subcontractors in specialist trades to work on the hotel development and, once complete, a number of additional full and part-time jobs will be created.” The hotel will sit to the north of the pub, which was opened a year ago, with permission for the overall scheme being granted nearly two years ago.

Dunbar community council vice-chairwoman and secretary Jacquie Bell welcomed the news and felt it was something the town needed.

She said: “I think we are short of bedspace in the town.” Mrs Bell felt the location could also prove beneficial to the hotel, with little obvious tourist accommodation between Berwick-upon-Tweed and Newcraighall.

But she was keen to see the location also benefit Dunbar.

“The thing would be to encourage people to go into the town rather than stay overnight and not go near,” she said.

According to the plans, the 27 rooms will be a mix of sizes to accommodate both families and single visitors.

A total of 27 parking spaces will also be created, plus the provision of cycling storage.

Meanwhile, Marston’s is planning an expansion across the country, with a total of 92 sites picked out, including Gullane, Haddington and Musselburgh.

Sites would need to be identified and explored further before planning applications were submitted to East Lothian Council.

One potential location in Haddington could be at Gateside, near the already-approved Sainsbury’s store.

Plans are currently being considered for 112 houses, industrial units and a pub/restaurant.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the town’s community council, had “very mixed feelings” about the idea of a pub/restaurant coming to the site.

She said: “I always think places like Haddington could do with more eating places but when it comes to the outskirts of the town you worry it takes away from the town centre.

“A place is only as good as its chef; if you get good meals you will go there.” But she felt the jobs created would be a positive.