Gullane - Changes to The Bonnie Badger given the green light

The Bonnie Badger, on Gullane’s Main Street, currently has 12 bedrooms.

Now, five more will be added to the premises, which were previously owned by television chef Tom Kitchin.

Buzzworks Hospitality, which took over the premises earlier this year, has been given the go-ahead to make changes to the building.

Replacement doors and screens have been given the green light, while internal alterations, which do not require planning permission, now look likely to move ahead.

Those changes include the creation of two additional hotel bedrooms on the ground floor, as well as three additional bedrooms upstairs.

The Bonnie Badger, in Gullane, changed hands earlier this year (Image: Gordon Bell)

The first-floor bedrooms are to be converted from existing staff accommodation to hotel use.

Plans submitted by the new owners outlined the reasoning behind the changes.

They said: “At ground-floor level, there are two new bedrooms proposed.

“These rooms replace the lounge and private dining areas of the hotel that are deemed extraneous.

"In the rest of the ground floor, the proposed downtakings are mostly lightweight stud walls, with the exception of the wall between the pool room and the hotel reception, which is already partially open.

“The bar area is also being relocated into the pool room so it’s closer to the main entrance.

“At first floor, the annexed apartment, which is currently used for staff accommodation, will be reclassified for hotel use and converted into three hotel bedrooms.

“This part of the hotel is not considered to have any historic significance and the works to convert the apartment to hotel bedrooms is minimal.”

The Bonnie Badger, in Gullane, was previously owned by Tom and Michaela Kitchin (Image: Gordon Bell)

Previously, it was said that the venue, which will also revert to its previous name, The Golf Inn, would continue to operate until later this year, when it would close for refurbishment.

Then, it was suggested that works were expected to take place across autumn and winter, ahead of reopening in spring next year.

Already, Buzzworks Hospitality has a presence in East Lothian, operating Herringbone North Berwick and Lido Musselburgh, while North Berwick’s Nether Abbey Hotel will reopen as The Bass & Barrel next month.

Buzzworks Hospitality has been approached for comment.