FRESH food could be on the menu in a bid to breathe new life into a village pub.

Pencaitland’s Winton Arms is currently closed but Caledonian Heritable Ltd is looking to ensure the business has a future.

The Edinburgh-based developer was given permission in September last year to transform part of the pub into a restaurant.

Amended plans are now with East Lothian Council, which show space outside for bicycles and an electronic vehicle charging point.

Among the inside changes is the layout on the ground floor of the pub.

Ralph Averbuch, chairman of Pencaitland Community Council, was confident that most people would be pleased to see a continued commitment to ensuring the building had a future.

He said: “I would say most people are extremely relieved that, given the current situation, the developers have not turned tail and run because of the uncertainty of what is ahead of us.

“Quite a lot of people are relieved.”

The village was previously home to two pubs but The Old Smiddy Inn closed its doors in the early 2000s.

It has since been converted into housing, with Mr Averbuch saying that many in Pencaitland were happy not to lose the remaining pub.

However, he stressed that the positive feeling was not universal, highlighting that concerns had been raised about “additional noise, additional traffic and extra footfall”.

Mr Averbuch encouraged anyone with concerns to get in touch with East Lothian Council about the proposals.

The new proposals show alterations to the location of the toilets, as well as space for al fresco dining.

A design and access statement included within the planning application highlights how it has become increasingly difficult for pubs to remain open.

Changes to drink driving laws and people’s drinking habits were highlighted as reasons for struggles to ensure it remained “a viable proposition”.

It is hoped with the change the Winton Arms “can once again become a popular amenity” for the village.

The document notes: “On top of the above, we all find ourselves in the grip of a worldwide Covid-19/coronavirus pandemic.

“As a result, at the time of writing this statement, it is not possible due to Government regulations and guidelines to open premises such as public houses, restaurants, clubs etc, to the public.

“It is also well understood by the licensing trade that licensed premises, even if they are allowed to open in the future, will face difficulties in providing a safe operation for staff and public alike.

“It is likely that the Government will insist that safe distancing practices are in place throughout the premises, and that the touching of surfaces should be kept to a minimum.

“How the licensing trade overcomes these difficulties will depend on the layout of the individual premises, the resilience and conscientiousness of staff and the public’s willingness to keep to the necessary measures that will require to be put in place to ensure a safe drinking and eating environment.

“In terms of this public house, the owners have come to the conclusion that the current layout and current offering of the public house, which at present does not have a kitchen to prepare and cook food, is not sufficient to form the basis for re-opening the premises to the public.”