The Grey Horse pub, famed throughout the Lothians for its real ales, will soon be re-opening after a lengthy closure.
Balerno-born John McArdle and his partner, Gillian Wilkinson, are behind the move and the journey from acquisition to opening has been a trip down memory lane.
John’s late father Jack was a well-known regular and John followed in dad’s footsteps, popping in for a refreshment in his youth and later life.
The Edinburgh businessman admits he bought the pub with his heart and not his head because of his strong local connections and the new owners have used designers, builders and trades all with extensive experience in the hospitality industry.
The public bar plus a revamped lounge bar will be augmented by a function suite but, before the internal transformation could begin, there was a major clear-out, and John said they are working flat out to get the pints flowing again.
Amy Buchanan has agreed to be the tenant and the new owners believe her local knowledge and connections will be invaluable in reviving the Grey Horse.
She is known to many Balerno residents as the school administrator at Dean Park Primary. She has left to concentrate on the pub.
Initially, the Grey Horse, or Brow’s as it is known locally, will concentrate on the bar trade, with at least four cask ales at the centre of the offering, including two constant beers.
Food will be kept simple, charcuterie, cheese boards and snacks to accompany the beers and wines.
The function area, to be known as the Back Room, will be a space for meetings, parties and events, and, as there is a sizeable kitchen, catering can be done in-house or outside caterers can be brought in.
The owners confirm that there has been interest from well-known Edinburgh chefs who are keen to explore pop-up events.
The facelift has certainly taken a longer than hoped, but the owners believe that the public bar, lounge bar and Back Room will provide something for everyone when the doors re-open.
FLASHBACK: The outside of the Grey Horse as it used to look before the scaffolding went up. Now things are changing. Picture Nigel Duncan
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