MUSSELBURGH pub Staggs has come first in the Lothian section of this year's Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Pubs of the Year.

The hostelry on North High Street beat the Dean Tavern at Newtongrange into second place, while third was the Grey Horse at Balerno.

CAMRA members in Edinburgh and South East Scotland announced the winners for Lothian, Borders and Edinburgh City this week.

The overall Edinburgh and South East Scotland winner will be announced in mid-March.

In Edinburgh City, the joint winners were Dreadnought and Stockbridge Tap, while Cloisters was third. The Bridge Inn at Peebles came first in the Borders section, with runner-up Rutherfords at Kelso and the Plough, Leitholm, in third place.

Staggs, also known as The Volunteer Arms, is no stranger to winning accolades. Last year it was named the best pub in Scotland and Ireland for the third time, having won the title in 1998 and 2016.

It was also named Pub of the Year for the UK in 1998 and has scooped the Best in the Lothians award 25 times, and the Edinburgh and South East Scotland title eight times.

Last year was The Volunteer Arms' 160th anniversary of being in the same family after opening in 1858. Nigel Finlay and his brother Ian are the current owners.

Nigel runs the pub with the help of his wife Donna and daughter Katie McKenzie.

He said: "Once again we are delighted to be voted Lothian’s Pub of the Year.

"We look forward to the year ahead and will continue our mission to serve great-quality ale."