East Lothian pub gets £850,000 makeover
The County Hotel will be renamed The Law by owner Star Pubs and the Discovery Group when it reopens as a dog friendly bar and restaurant with 11 bedrooms and, its owners say, one of the largest gardens in the town.
A meeting of East Lothian Licensing Board last week approved changes to the premises licence to allow an outdoor garden area to be used as well as extending its hours of operation.
Neighbours who had raised concerns about the impact of the noise from outdoor use as well as smoking outside the building, were given some reassurances during the meeting with conditions added to help control any issues.
An artist\'s impression of how The Law will look once refurbished please credit Star Pubs
One objector told the meeting that having listened to the plans for the pub and hotel first hand he took some comfort that it would be well operated adding that while he had enjoyed living next door to the former hotel when it was in operation he had not enjoyed 'living next door to a rapidly deteriorating eyesore'.
The board heard the £850,000 investment in the hotel and pub would see it transformed into a top-quality family and dog-friendly venue with two separate bars, a restaurant with a bar, function space, 11 ensuite letting rooms and one of the largest gardens in town.
It will even have its own dog-friendly menu and it was revealed the animal friendly operators had even changed construction plans for the refurbishment after the discovery of a birds nest to ensure it was not disturbed until its occupants have moved on.
Believed to have started out as a post house in 1815, The County Hotel will be renamed The Law – after the well-known North Berwick hill – to mark its new direction.
It is expected to reopen in September with up to 25 jobs being created.
And it will be overseen by team who already operate The Ship Inn in the town.
The large garden at the back will have seating for up to 100 people and has been given special dispensation to have live music outside during Fringe By The Sea by licensing chiefs.
Discovery Group director Steven Winton, who will oversee The Law along with director Jamie MacKinnon said: 'We're thrilled to have found another venue in North Berwick, especially one that is so prominent.
'People have been concerned about The County Hotel's future and there's lots of excitement about the plans for it. The town has a real sense of community and residents are very supportive.
'We want to bring out all The County Hotel's potential and add to the diverse range of independently run hospitality businesses and shops that help make North Berwick such a special place'
By Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
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Popular North Berwick pub to re-open after closure six years ago
Work is underway to re-open a popular East Lothian pub which has been closed for six years. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The £850,000 works by Heineken-owned Star Pubs and the Discovery Group began earlier this month to re-open North Berwick pub The County Hotel on the High Street, that has been permanently closed since the summer of 2019, and are due to be completed in September with a new name - The Law - named after the well known hill in the town. Discover Group directors Steven Winton and Jamie MacKinnon outside the County Hotel, soon to re-open as The Law. | Star Pubs The project will transform The County Hotel into a family and dog-friendly venue with two separate bars, a restaurant with a bar, function space, 11 en-suite letting rooms and one of the largest beer gardens in town. The overgrown rear courtyard will become a stylish 100-seater garden kitted out with smart furniture and a spacious patio. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Believed to have started out as a post house in 1815, the transformation of The County Hotel is expected to create 25 jobs. The exterior works will renovate the outside of the Category C listed building, repainting it a classic dark green and installing new signage, lighting and planting, complementing other properties in the centre of the East Lothian town. A complete internal makeover will revamp the building to a high standard, replacing everything from the toilets and kitchen to the fixtures and fittings. Reflecting its name, the whole venue will celebrate North Berwick with a nod to the town and the surrounding area in its artwork and décor. Work is underway at the County Hotel to transform it into The Law, with the new pub and hotel set to open in September. | Star Pubs The entire ground floor will be remodelled to create more space. There will be a new bar at the front with a contemporary look incorporating exposed brickwork and decorative floor tiles, plus television screens showing major sporting events. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A former stable at the back will be turned into a second bar overlooking the garden, complete with a pizza oven. Available for private hire, the room will have a modern design that emphasises original features, such as the old stable doors, beams and stone walls. The two floors above will house a restaurant that can accommodate private functions and 11 letting rooms. Discovery Group director Steven Winton, who will oversee The Law along with director Jamie MacKinnon, said: 'We're thrilled to have found another venue in North Berwick, especially one that is so prominent. 'People have been concerned about The County Hotel's future and there's lots of excitement about the plans for it. The town has a real sense of community and residents are very supportive. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We want to bring out all The County Hotel's potential and add to the diverse range of independently run hospitality businesses and shops that help make North Berwick such a special place' He added: 'A bird's nest has recently been found on site. The construction plans have therefore been reconfigured and measures put in place to ensure that the nest is protected and not disturbed until the birds have left.' Discover Group directors Steven Winton and Jamie MacKinnon at the North Berwick pub which has been closed since 2019. | Star Pubs The Law will serve freshly prepared food throughout the day from breakfast and morning coffee and cake through to afternoon teas and dinner. To cater for all occasions the menu will include pub favourites and à la carte specials. Seafood dishes will be a speciality, and children will have a dedicated menu. The drinks selection will be equally varied, spanning 'barista-quality coffee', real ales and cocktails through to a carefully chosen selection of premium wines, whiskies and spirits, many from Scotland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Customers' four-legged friends have not been forgotten either and will have their own doggy menu along with free treats and water on the house. The pub will be transformed when it opens for the first time in six years in September. | Star Pubs Star Pubs area manager for East Lothian Jeremy Williams said: 'We're delighted to be working with Steven and Jamie to reopen The County Hotel again after so long. 'They've got a reputation for outstanding food, drink and service and, with successful pub The Ship Inn in the town already, they understand what residents and North Berwick's many visitors want. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We're giving the refurbishment the works; it's a massive investment and The Law will look fantastic.' The refurbishment of The County Hotel is part of Star Pubs' £40 million investment in upgrading pubs in 2025, which includes £4.5m earmarked for Scotland.
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The County Hotel on High Street will undergo an £850,000 renovation by the Heineken-owned Star Pubs and Discovery Group, who also run The Ship Inn in North Berwick and have eight hotels and pubs across the central belt, including four in Edinburgh. The East Lothian pub was permanently closed in the summer of 2019 and will be renamed The Law following refurbishment. READ MORE: Lewis Capaldi pictured visiting popular Glasgow restaurant Discovery Group director Steven Winton, who will oversee The Law along with director Jamie MacKinnon, said: 'We're thrilled to have found another venue in North Berwick, especially one that is so prominent. 'People have been concerned about The County Hotel's future and there's lots of excitement about the plans for it. 'The town has a real sense of community and residents are very supportive. We want to bring out all The County Hotel's potential and add to the diverse range of independently run hospitality businesses and shops that help make North Berwick such a special place' Believed to have started as a post house in 1815, The Law is expected to open in early September and create around 25 new jobs. The category C listed building will have its exterior painted dark green to match other buildings in the area, as well as having a 100-seat beer garden installed. An interior makeover will see a new kitchen, toilets and fixtures installed into the old building, as well as screens to show major sporting events. A pizza oven will be added into the back section of the pub, with 11 rooms also available to let. READ MORE: See the full lists of acts who made political statements at Glastonbury 2025 The Law will be dog-friendly and bosses say ingredients for kitchen dishes will be sourced locally where possible, with dining menus set to change seasonally. Star Pubs area manager for East Lothian Jeremy Williams said: 'We're delighted to be working with Steven and Jamie to reopen The County Hotel again after so long. 'They've got a reputation for outstanding food, drink and service and, with a successful pub in the town already, they understand what residents and North Berwick's many visitors want. 'We're giving the refurbishment the works; it's a massive investment and The Law will look fantastic.'
