HADDINGTON Corn Exchange will be shut for the majority of next year.

The venue will be closed from February 4 to November 4 as part of a major refurbishment.

More than £800,000 was set aside by East Lothian Council in 2017 for the Court Street building, which is used by a variety of groups.

A council spokeswoman said: “The works planned include new storage for main hall, replacing the floor, new roof lights and decoration. There will be additional toilets installed with full accessibility. The back hall will be upgraded and new kitchen installed.

“Externally there will be some roofing and drainage works.”

Tenders for a contractor are expected to go out soon, with detailed costings for the improvements then made available.

Jan Wilson, chairwoman of the town’s community council, said the Haddington Festival would look for a new base for 2019 but felt it was important work was carried out at the building.

She said: “I think you have to look at the bigger picture.

“Yes, it is an inconvenience but it is an amazing building and the size of the hall means you can run just about anything in it.

“It is a great asset to the town.

“Much as I will miss it for those [nine] months, I think it is important that it gets done.

“I think it will be an amazing facility once it is all done up.”

The Corn Exchange is used regularly by a variety of groups, including badminton and table tennis clubs. Senior citizen lunch clubs also use the building, which is also a popular venue for live concerts, jumble sales and blood donation sessions.

Martin Hayman, head of club development at Haddington Table Tennis Club, was looking forward to seeing the building refurbished.

He said: “The floor will be improved, which will make a huge difference. Hopefully, they will resolve all the leaks in the roof so when it rains and it is windy, we don’t have to move tables around.”

During the closure, the club is looking to find alternative venues to run classes and host matches.

Mr Hayman said: “We are negotiating and in discussions with other venues to relocate at least some of our activities within Haddington and also elsewhere in other venues in East Lothian.

“For example, we will be playing in the sports hall at Knox Academy and hopefully we will be getting some time in the Aubigny Sports Centre as well, although that is still to be finalised.”

Improvements were previously planned for the building but Haddington Community Development Trust (HCDT) turned down the opportunity to take on a near £500,000 grant.

In 2014, the group successfully secured £482,282 through the Legacy:Scotland grants offered by Viridor Credits. However, it opted against taking on the six-figure sum, which was earmarked for improvements including a mezzanine floor in the back hall, as well as improvements in insulation and to prevent leaks in the roof.

Provost John McMillan, ward councillor, said: “I think in terms of the future of the building, at a time when the community is growing, at a time when we need to be making more of our assets, it is great to have that investment in it.”