IT’S going, going, gone for a 119-year-old pub in Tranent, after it was sold for residential purposes – but dedicated customers are banding together to protest against its closure.

Hawthorn Leisure, which owns The Tower Inn, notified husband-and-wife duo John and Tracy Reynolds, who have run the pub for the last nine years, that the building had been sold.

The pub, established in 1902, has served the local community for nearly 120 years but staff at the well-loved watering hole will pour the pub’s final pint on January 10 – leaving just three public houses in the town: Whispers, The Brig Inn and The Tranent Arms.

John, 57, expressed his sadness at losing the pub and said: “There will certainly have been a few stories told over the last century inside this place.

“It has also been the site where a lot of friendships have been made and jobs created over the years.

“We have all shared lots of laughter, tears of joy and sadness, and each of us will have our own little memories but, sadly, Tranent is losing another community hub.

“Tracy and I would like to thank everyone over the last nine years for their custom and support, and not to mention the numerous amount of friends we have made during our time here.

“We also remember the characters and friends who are no longer with us, some of whom were the most loyal customers we have ever come across.

“Covid has not been kind to a lot of businesses, particularly those in the hospitality sector, but as the saying goes, ‘use it or lose it’, which will apply to the remainder of pubs and clubs that are left in Tranent.”

The pub was put up for sale earlier in the year, with Mr and Mrs Reynolds only finding out about its sale status a week before it re-opened following the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions on May 17.

Now, Tower Inn punters are banding together to save the establishment from closure.

A Facebook page – titled Save the Tower Inn – has gathered more than 500 followers upon its creation.

Victor Nelson, Save the Tower Inn spokesperson, said: “It is a pub that has maintained its traditions over the years, providing a warm and friendly atmosphere as well as much-needed support and friendships to those in the community that have needed it most.

“In recent years, the Tower has set up a men’s social group which raised money to donate to local community projects.

“This provided assistance towards buying memorial benches for use within the community and also gave the Hub at Sanderson’s Wynd Primary the money to buy two communication devices to give non-verbal pupils a voice.

“Earlier this year, the brewery that owned the pub put the Tower Inn up for sale and invited offers to all parties with the view to selling the property to the highest bidder.

“A number of the interested parties submitted offers that would have continued to run the property as a pub but sadly failed in the highest bid process, meaning the property has now been sold for residential purposes that will see the pub close its doors for the final time mid January 2022 – a sad loss that will see people lose their jobs, East Lothian lose another traditional establishment and the community lose another local hub.”

Kenny McLeod, ward councillor, said: “I am disappointed to see another pub shut in Tranent after well over 100 years since it opened – another gathering place for people of Tranent to meet and catch up.

“We have lost so many establishments such as the Legion, Labour Club and The Plough.

“We now only have Whispers, The Brig Inn and The Tranent Arms left when it comes to pubs, but we still have the Store Club and the rugby club, along with the bowling clubs available.”

A spokesperson for Hawthorn said: “We are strong believers in the importance of community pubs.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, we have been unable to find a new partner to take over The Tower Inn when our current tenant’s lease ends in January, so we have taken the decision to sell the pub.”