An historic old pub that lies under the Forth Rail Bridge is set to for a major renovation.
The City of Edinburgh Council validated a proposal from The Hawes Inn on Newhalls Road in South Queensferry recently.
The old boozer is almost 400-year-old and was originally a late 17th century Coaching Inn, with an inscription on the wall dating to 1638.
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Over the years the cosy little pub has become pretty famous, and possibly due to the picturesque setting, featured in various novels over the years.
The Hawes Inn found fame in Robert Louis Stevenson’s ‘ Kidnapped’ as the place where the kidnapping of the hero, David Balfour, was arranged.
There are four painted panels of the story’s main characters on the principle elevation: Uncle Ebenezer, Captain Elias Hoseath, David Balfour of Shaws and Alan Breck Stewart.
The old pub also has other literary connections: it is mentioned in Sir Walter Scott’s ‘Antiquary’ and again by Stevenson in ‘Memories and Portraits.’
During the eighteenth-century the inn was used as a change house for stagecoaches using the Newhalls Ferry and the adjacent garage used to be the stables and coach-house.
The historic nature of the pub led to it receiving a B-listing and the developers promise that they do not intend to change the fabric of the building. Mitchells and Butlers PLC own the site and operate the premises under their Vintage Inn brand.
They promise on the planning application that the proposals effecting the listed building itself are simply decorative in nature, or involve minor fit out items that do not physically affect the fabric of the building.
The bar, restaurant and hotel will all be revamped, with new interior decorating, new TV area, refurbishment of toilets and the bar area is also set for an upgrade.
The City of Edinburgh Council are expected to make a decision on the planning application in the coming days and weeks.
