A MAN who had his first pint in The Railway Hotel is determined to get the business back on track.

Craig Thomson took the helm of the popular Haddington pub earlier this month and is already loving life behind the bar.

However, he revealed to the Courier that he was no stranger to the Court Street venue.

He said: “I tried to get it over a year ago but, with stuff going on, we missed it.

“It came up again due to it not being run that great in the past.

“Hopefully we turn it round and get it back to what it used to be.

“I only wanted this pub. I was here when Hamish Colgan was here, his brother Bobby, and I grew up with that.

“I just thought it was fitting. It has gone full circle and Hamish still comes in now and again and remembers me.”

East Lothian Courier: Craig Thomson is now the man behind the bar at The Railway Hotel in HaddingtonCraig Thomson is now the man behind the bar at The Railway Hotel in Haddington

Hamish was a well-known face at the pub for nearly three decades and called it a day at the beginning of 2016.

Since then, the pub has undergone two name changes – to The Bell, then The Green – and different people behind the bar before reverting back to The Railway Hotel in the summer of last year.

READ MORE: Popular pub to be named The Railway again

Craig, who lives near Athelstaneford, revealed that Hamish not only remembered him but was also pleased to see him behind the bar.

He said: “Hamish is all for it. He came in and wished me all the best for it.

“It is funny how it went from going on holiday with him, varnishing benches and picking up glasses to taking it on.”

The 37-year-old was pleased to say that the response since taking charge earlier in the month had been positive.

He said: “It seems to be good.

“We were busy last Saturday with the rugby, had a couple of families in and it was pretty good.

“It needs to be back to being a proper pub again.

“That is what it needs to be – a proper, old-school pub that is for the people of Haddington.”

A spokesperson for The Railway welcomed Craig and was looking forward to working with him.

They said: “We have a new operator in place who is running the pub and we hope to work closely with them in both the near future and the long term so this is a great community pub for all to enjoy.”