Glasshouse flowers in old mill

The Glasshouse is the latest project by Steve Adair, formerly head chef at some of the Capital's top restaurants, including The Tower at the Museum of Scotland and The Gallery in the Weston Link.

The restaurant is located in an extensively refurbished 19th-century mill in the town's Eskmills business complex.

Work on the property has seen an extension built out into the courtyard, with floor to ceiling glass windows and a new dome centrepiece added.

Around half of the budget has gone on fitting out the kitchen and restaurant, which features a 100-seater bistro, private dining room and bar.

The Glasshouse's planned opening is on December 11 and comes ahead of the new Queen Margaret University College campus opening on the edge of the town next year.

Mr Adair, 34, who earlier this year cooked for the Queen as part of the celebrations for her 80th birthday, said the Glasshouse's modern Scottish dishes would fill a gap in the East Lothian restaurant market.

He said: "It has always been a dream of mine to have my own restaurant and when I first came down here I just fell in love with the place. No disrespect to the other restaurants in the local area, but I don't think there is really anything of this ilk in Musselburgh.

"The Glasshouse aims to appeal to a local clientele looking for a relaxed and informal but contemporary dining experience, where the food will exceed expectations.

"East Lothian has some of the finest produce around and by using quality, local produce and suppliers we will create dishes that will keep customers coming back again and again.

"Locals will, I hope, be pleasantly surprised when they see the sympathetic transformation of the mill into a stunning contemporary building."

He added: "I am also sure that food lovers from further afield will quickly discover The Glasshouse as a 'hidden gem' for high quality food."

Mr Adair said the venture would create around 20 new jobs and will use as much produce and as many suppliers from East Lothian as possible.

The former mill at Eskmills once housed the first ever mechanical knot tying machine for the manufacture of fishing nets and at its height, the mill employed over 800 people in cotton processing and rope manufacturing.

The Glasshouse venture has seen Mr Adair kit out the restaurant and kitchens, while the redevelopment was carried out by Eskmills Ltd.

The firm's director, Malcolm Gillies, said: "The Glasshouse aims to be a welcoming neighbourhood restaurant with a bit of a wow factor, which will come from the food and the location.

"The Glasshouse has been designed to cater for all dining requirements, from breakfast right through to dinner, with the ambience and menu that changes throughout the day.

"With a business community of more than 500 people at Eskmills, it will provide the perfect place for corporate entertaining."

As part of efforts to create an unusual ambience, the restaurant has been fitted with water features and sculptures, as well as a creative light display.

Eskmills business park lies in the centre of the East Lothian town and is home to 38 companies and around 500 staff.