2020 Vision for The Prestoungrange Gothenburg

For 10 years since re-opening the Prestoungrange Gothenburg has harboured and encouraged the arts ... now 2020 vision is required!

Five pubs close every week across the UK so it's clearly not a walk-in-the-park running a pub in the 21st century. But that's what the partnership of Carol Black, Andrew Laurie and Anne Taylor [BLT LLP] has done for our community and so many visitors since 2004. And now they're crafting their 2020 vision.

Redburn Café as a completely new initiative: From Tuesday next the Redburn Café will offer an intriguing service. Call in and find out for yourself! Excellent coffee all the while of course but more besides including weekend brunches.

Residential home to the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry: More than a few will have seen the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry already at the Community Centre but not all will know that its home is The Goth. When it's not out exhibiting or touring it will be popping up country by country at The Goth. Next Tuesday sees a 10 day exhibition of the Southern Africa and Australasia panels with, wait for it, African and Australasian Specials from Chef Andrew Laurie on offer in the Bistro from Fridays/ Sundays.

There's a lot more too ... Doug is at work in the Fowler's Microbrewery with a Wee Heavie promised in the summer and a Beer Fest or two, and here's just an art sample from Andrew Hillhouse: The Prestoungrange Gothenburg is the arts hub/pub in town and Andrew Hillhouse has already won acclaim for his series of five paintings for the Battle Trust. Now he's been tempted to remind us of the Goth is stormy weather. And as you look just spare a thought for the murals being hammered on the sea wall below!


With weather like this there's only one place to be, inside The Goth!

The Press Release from The Prestoungrange Gothenburg reads as follows

Every business across the nation has to look ahead for changes in its marketplace that can carry it onwards and upwards or threaten its future. And the nation’s public houses are certainly no exception. About now 2020 vision is called for, and the Prestoungrange Gothenburg in Prestonpans has adjusted its focus accordingly.

It’s 10th anniversary sees new activities not least the launch of The Redburn Coffee Shop/ Café which features newspapers to read and offers artworks and more for sale. Of course, everyone’s 10th drink at The Redburn will be on the house.

There’s an even greater focus on the role as bistro, arts hub and function centre. There’s Saturday music and Doug the brewer will be taking bookings from Groups that wish to ‘learn’ how to make their own beer.
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When the famous 1908 arts and crafts miner’s pub re-opened a decade ago it won the CAMRA award for UK Best Restoration. Since then it’s won countless more for its community role across Edinburgh and the Lothians, its food and its Fowler’s Ales microbrewery. It’s the accredited centre for the annual 1745 battle re-enactments.

It’s also been the arts hub and sponsor for the phenomenally successful Prestoungrange Arts Festival which has created over 60 public murals across town, published a dozen art books and novels, has its own totem pole and played host to the town’s two mega tapestries – and that’s before you mention the music and theatre, storytelling and poetry.

The arts hub will continue to grow, not least because it is residential home of the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry [see our panel stitched by Maggie & Ian Ferguson with some help from Anne and Carol!] when it’s not out on national or international exhibition.



Anne Taylor who, with Carol Black and Chef Andrew Laurie, has led the renaissance and held the licence throughout the decade said:

“Everyone loves awards but it’s really all about the customers who sponsor and vote for us. Their banter in the bar, their assumed wisdom and tolerance, their family gatherings in the panelled Bistro or the spectacular Lord Mayor’s Bar for birthdays, Mother’s Day and all sorts of other celebrations make every day [except Mondays] enjoyable. And since they’ve asked for it we’re delighted to open The Redburn Café.”

The Official Opening of The Redburn Café will by Centenarian Elspeth Gardiner [married name Wilkie], who’s holding her 100th Birthday Party on Saturday June 7th at The Goth. She praised the staff there:

“Although I’m a Belter from Tranent, I love the Goth. The food and bar are magnificent and it’s just the place for family celebrations and there’s no need to wait till you’re 100 either. I’ve been coming ever since it reopened in 2004 and want to congratulate everyone here on keeping such a great facility alive for the community."
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Why Redburn? There’s an invisible red burn beneath the tarmac of Redburn Road …. but looking out the easterly door of the Prestoungrange Gothenburg today you see the spot where Tom McKinlay & Sons Dairy traded. It’s commemorated there in the mural painted by Adele Conn, and outside the hub/pub itself cows and a young calf can still be seen grazing. The bull is safely away in Cockenzie …

Why ‘Lord Mayor’s’ Bar? Jorgen Linder, the Lord Mayor of Gotheburg in Sweden, the city whose ‘drink in moderation and excess profits back to the community’ ideas gave Scotland 70+ Goths in the late 19th century, named the upstairs bar with stunning views across The Forth all day but especially at sunset when he visited in 2004. He’s been back three times since – most recently just last week as the 8 embroidered panels stitched in Gothenburg went on display in the Scottish Diaspora Tapestry. We registered his own kilt design for wearing in his City back home [often] and in 2015 Gothenburg will host that tapestry’s touring exhibition in Sweden. A true friend indeed of both The Pans and Scotland.

Why Fowler’s? Fowler’s, famous since the ’45? It was our town’s own nationally famed brewery on the coastal road, closed in the sixties but well remembered at Fowler’s Haven in The Prestoungrange Gothenburg, which acquired the rights to use the name and regularly brews a Wee Heavie, porter and 80/- ale in its own microbrewery just behind our James Fewell Bar. Qu: Who was he? Ans: First publican on opening in 1908 captured with his family and press cutting in a mural by Kate Hunter in the eponymous bar above the Haven!