A FORMER MasterChef contestant will head up the new restaurant at the refurbished Marine Hotel in North Berwick.

Called The Lawn, it will be former MasterChef: The Professionals’ contestant Chris Niven’s job to oversee its operation. He appeared on the BBC show in 2017 and reached the semi-finals

Chris was previously executive chef at The Fairmont in St Andrews and The Scotsman Hotel in Edinburgh.

The Lawn will be accompanied by a new bar and longue called The Bass Rock, Chris will also oversee its menu.

As well as food, a variety of drinks will be on offer, including cocktails named after Bass Rock and Tantallon.

Last year Chris reached the semi-finals of National Chef of the Year. He is now in the semi-finals of the Tasting Spoon Chef of the Year award.

Both the bar and restaurant will be part of the Marine Hotel on Cromwell Road, it is due to open on July 15 following an extensive refurbishment, and will be developed and operated by White Rabbit Projects.

SEE MORE: Major refurbishment at Marine Hotel in North Berwick aims to 'restore her to her former glory'

The hotel, a Victorian-era B-Listed building, has been closed since January and when it opens it will be part of the Marine and Lawn Hotels and Resorts collection, which also includes Rusacks in St Andrews and the Marine in Troon, under US-based Adventurous Journey’s (AJ) Capital who bought the hotel from Macdonald Hotels last February.

Local ingredients will be used at the new restaurant, from places such as Seacliff, Belhaven and Phantassie near East Linton, with a lunch menu, that will change daily, and range of evening menus on offer.

Chris said: “I am thrilled to be launching the dining concepts for such an iconic property like Marine North Berwick.

“I have been championing Scottish produce for 20 years now, so getting to work with the fantastic local suppliers around East Lothian is a really exciting prospect.

“The menu is being created around the very best ingredients. Dishes will not be complicated; the flavours of the produce will really shine through.

“North Berwick is such a beautiful location with a real sense of community. It is not too far from Edinburgh as well, making it the perfect escape from the city.”