RISING costs have forced the closure of a Haddington pub – with fears it could be the first of many.

Spiralling gas and electricity prices, together with increasing food costs, has meant The Green, on Court Street, closed its doors at the beginning of the month.

Kurt and Laura Edwards had the tenancy of the business, which is owned by Greene King, for the last three-and-a-half years.

Mr Edwards said: “Costs are getting more and more.

“We are hearing of other pubs where the gas and electricity are almost five times what it was.

“I don’t know how you can run a business when overheads have almost doubled.

“Footfall is dropping at the moment.

“Everybody’s cost of living is going up, especially with gas and electricity going through the roof.

“The first thing going out the window is dining out or going for a pint.

“It is going to be a tough time to get through the winter but hopefully businesses survive and next year they can get on with it.”

READ MORE: End of the line for The Railway

The couple will focus their attention on Wee Green Events, who specialise in event catering and outside bars.

Mr Edwards praised his “really good staff” and “really excellent customers” but said Covid-19 had impacted the business and the hospitality sector as a whole.

He said: “Just coming out of Covid, it was stop start.

“We started to get back and all our gas and electricity prices have gone up hugely.

“We cannot even break even anymore and I think there are a lot of pubs and restaurants in the same boat.”

The Green was previously known, for a short period, as The Bell, and before that was The Railway Hotel.

READ MORE: End of the line for well-known publican Hamish Colgan at the Railway

Hamish Colgan ran The Railway for almost three decades before stepping away in 2016.

Councillor Tom Trotter, who represents the Haddington and Lammermuir ward on East Lothian Council, felt it was a blow to see any business close its doors.

He said: “It is actually sad it has had to happen but inevitable.

“I hope I’m wrong but I fear there could be more go the same way before it gets sorted out.

“People are tightening their belts – and rightly so, they have got families to look after – but it was a sign of what was to come when they stopped doing food.

“Unfortunately, they have not managed to keep going and it is a loss because it is a good community pub.

“It is sad that it has gone.”

 

A Greene King spokesperson said: “We fully intend to reopen The Green as we know it has a vital role to play in the local community.

"Our search for a new partner who will relaunch the pub with us and bring it back to its best is already underway.

"We actively encourage anyone interested in running the pub to get in touch with us.”