A planning application has been submitted to East Lothian Council on behalf of Wemyss and March Estates for a new high-quality coastal restaurant and beach huts at Longniddry Bents.

The new restaurant building will replace the existing mobile catering unit, run by Alandas, who are keen to retain their involvement and operate the proposed restaurant at the Longniddry Bents 3 Car Park, located just north of Longniddry.

It has already received the backing of hospitality trade body, UK Hospitality Scotland, and East Lothian Food & Drink.

The proposals also include the introduction of 12 beach huts to the south of the restaurant, with one proposed as a coastal sauna. These beach huts are primarily for storing paddleboards, kayaks, canoes, and other water sports equipment and are not for accommodation.

Longniddry Bents 3 is a popular car park and visitor destination, with over 200,000 visits a year. Due to this high level of activity, the site consists of heavily disturbed, relatively bare grassland, with hard-core/tarmac surfacing for existing parking.

Proposed to be open year-round, this new restaurant will offer an improved visitor experience and unlock the full potential of this spectacular location.

It will significantly enhance the current tourism offering, encouraging visitors to spend more in the local area whilst also providing clear employment opportunities for residents and further opportunities for local suppliers of related services and products.

Development will ensure that visitor spend stays in East Lothian, in full support of East Lothian’s Local Economy Strategy. This highlights the fundamental importance of the visitor economy, the need for responsible growth, improved visitor dispersal, and investment in quality experiences that encourage longer stays and higher spending.

Great care has been taken to ensure that appropriate measures are in place to protect and enhance the area’s ecology for future generations to enjoy.

A preliminary ecological assessment has highlighted that this is a heavily disturbed site, and the proposals will not damage existing coastal grasslands, habitats or sense of openness. Indeed, a Biodiversity Enhancement Plan explicitly aims to reinforce and enhance these grasslands while also proposing dune restoration.

Martin Andrews, Factor for Wemyss and March Estates, commented: “Our coastal restaurant and beach huts create a high-quality and unique visitor experience, bringing significant economic benefits, both to the local area and East Lothian as a whole.

We are proud of the role that The Bents play in coastal tourism, water sports, and general leisure pursuits. Our development will significantly enhance that experience.”

He added: “With views west towards Edinburgh, this will make a truly stunning location for a coastal restaurant, and our Biodiversity Enhancement Plan will enhance the grasslands whilst also proposing dune restoration.

The Wemyss and March Estate is a long-standing part of East Lothian’s history and, through this restaurant and beach huts, will contribute to the continuing economic success of East Lothian as a whole.”

Leon Thompson, Executive Director of UK Hospitality Scotland, said: “Having visited the site, this development has the potential to create a spectacular destination, significantly enhancing East Lothian’s overall tourism and food and drink offering and adding to the County’s growing variety of tourist destinations.

The combination of a restaurant and beach huts will create a high-quality destination, demonstrating a strong alignment with key trends in Scotland’s visitor economy – particularly the rising interest in wellness and outdoor experiences, local food and drink, and water-based activities.”

Emma Bouglet is the Business Manager for East Lothian Food & Drink, which was established to support the local food and drink industry and raise awareness of the high-quality produce available in East Lothian.

She said: “This is a fabulous addition to the East Lothian food and drink sector. It provides an incredible opportunity to showcase our wonderful local produce through creating an exemplar destination which East Lothian can be proud of.

The proposals are in full alignment with the Council’s Economic Development Strategy, which not only encourages people to visit Longniddry but also aims to inspire them to discover East Lothian as a whole. This is a win-win for East Lothian and we wish it every success.”

Wemyss and March Estates is an important local stakeholder with land and business interests across East Lothian.

At present, they own and operate Gosford House and Craigielaw Golf Club, own a number of farms around the County, have been responsible for the Longniddry South development, provide business premises for a number of local businesses, own and lease out many homes across the County and directly employ over 150 mostly local people.

Wemyss and March Estates is a long-standing part of East Lothian’s history, committed to the success of the Estate and, importantly, the success of East Lothian as a whole.

Its farming, leisure and development initiatives across East Lothian generate significant income and investment into the County, something the Estate is seeking to enhance in the coming years.