A FORMER Musselburgh nightclub and pub is set to open its doors again a little more than a year after closing.

The Courier understands the former Mayfair Bar on Newhailes Road is to become a sports bar, showing live and recorded sports on large-screen TVs.

It is believed the well-known Alongi family from Musselburgh, which also own the Caprice restaurant on High Street, are involved in the new venture at the Olivebank Retail Park premises, which had traded as the Mayfair Bar until early 2011. However, attempts to contact the family have failed.

Records available online list a member of the family as a director of 'Madisons Food and Drink Limited', which gives as its registered address the bar's premises.

The Alongi family had also been behind the venue's earlier incarnations as Club Cube nightclub and the Mayfair.

Workmen have been seen at the premises in recent days.

Alan Hay, a member of Musselburgh and Inveresk Community Council, said: "A lot of the residents nearby don't want anything there because it was a nightclub previously. Right from the start it will have to hit the ground running and have good management." The Courier understands that the venue's existing premises licence has been transferred to a new licensee and will not need to be reviewed by East Lothian Council's licensing board before reopening. The bar's current licensed hours for serving alcohol are Monday to Wednesday, 11am to 11pm; Thursday and Sunday, 11am to midnight; and 11am till 1am on Fridays.

Councillor John McNeil (Lab), Musselburgh West and member of East Lothian Council's licensing board, said: "I would encourage the board to monitor the new licensee and discuss tactics with them before they open."