THE manager of a well-loved 119-year-old pub in Tranent poured the establishment’s final pint on Saturday evening, as the community hub closed its doors for good yesterday after the building was sold for residential purposes.

The Tower Inn, established in 1902, has served the county for nearly 120 years and has been managed by husband-and-wife duo John and Tracy Reynolds for the last nine years.

The couple were informed by owners Hawthorn Leisure that the building had been sold last May.

Staff and regular customers gathered at the pub on Saturday evening to celebrate nine years of memories – the pub officially closed its doors yesterday (Monday).

Covid restrictions limited the number of customers in attendance.

John, 57, expressed his sadness at losing the pub and said its final evening was one to remember: “It was a great and tremendous night was had by all and very emotional.

“I will be taking away nine years of fond memories from customers past and present and met a lot of great people on my journey.

“It’s sad to be closing the pub for the last time but hopefully something is done to let the building re-open for what it is and always will be The Tower Inn Pub.”

John thanked Dean Johns and Paolo Nutini tribute act Ally Robertson for providing entertainment over the years.

He also thanked the Fa’side Community Kitchen who supplied a “wonderful” buffet for the evening.

On behalf of himself and wife Tracy, John added: “A massive thank you to the community for supporting us over the last nine years from the bottom of our hearts.”

Though celebrating the success and stories from the last nine years, John also expressed his dissapointment at the closure of the pub by Hawthorn Leisure, who he claimed received a number of offers during the selling process, which could have kept the building open as a pub.

The well-loved watering hole will now be transformed into residential homes, leaving the town with just three public houses: Whispers, The Brig Inn and The Tranent Arms.

Last month, dedicated customers launched a campaign to keep The Tower Inn open, named Save The Tower Inn.

The campaign spokesperson, Victor Nelson, said the pub provided a “warm and friendly atmosphere as well as much-needed support and friendships to those in the community that have needed it most”.

He added that the tower had established a men’s social group imperative for raising and donating money to local community projects.

A spokesperson for Hawthorn, the Community Pub Company, 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.”