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Plans were revealed last month to transform the three-storey Gardeners Arms in the centre of Haddington. The historic venue, on the town’s Kilpair Street, dates back hundreds of years, with The Fraternity of Gardeners of East Lothian once based in the town. They purchased a property which contained an inn on the corner of Market Street. However, last orders may have been called at the pub, which has not been open for about three years. Flats would be created on each floor of the building under DSI Properties Ltd’s plans. Haddington’s community council did not object to the proposals but felt that the plans could be altered to keep the ground floor available for business use.
THE retail park being built on the outskirts of Haddington should be treated as “an opportunity not a threat” to the town centre, the Provost of East Lothian has said. Haddington Retail Park, on the western edge of the town, is due to open later this year and will include The Food Warehouse, Home Bargains, Costa Coffee and a petrol station. Aldi will also swap its town centre site off Whittingehame Drive for a new, larger store in the retail park, with the occupier of a fifth unit yet to be revealed. The retail park will have nearly 300 free-of-charge parking spaces and is also within walking distance of hundreds of new homes being built at nearby Gateside and Letham Mains.
A CELEBRATION to mark the end of lockdown restrictions is being planned for Haddington. Discussions are taking place to see what could be organised to mark the historic occasion, with family events and a permanent memorial among the options being considered. Paul Kinnoch, from the town’s Tyneside Tavern and Mazzoli Italian Kitchen, is among those involved in planning a celebratory event. A promotions group – made up of members of Haddington Business Community Partnership (HBCP) and other members of the public – is exploring the possibility of some sort of festivity taking place. Mr Kinnoch, who heads up the HBCP sub-group, said “a community day” was being considered for the town and added: “It would be to celebrate everybody that made a difference during the lockdown period and create a huge event, similar to what we did for Haddington 700, to bring the community together.
A CALL for ‘Haddington’ to be dropped from the name of a retail park on the outskirts of the town looks likely to be unsuccessful. The retail park, which will include Aldi, Home Bargains, The Food Warehouse, Costa Coffee and a petrol station, is due to open on the town’s western edge this summer. Members of Haddington’s community council wrote to those behind the project and East Lothian Council to ask if the development could be called something other than Haddington Retail Park. Suggestions from members of the public included Gateside Retail Park or Oak Tree Retail Park to reflect the site’s history.