Wednesday January 21st 2026
The bridge Inn, Peebles
Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Paul Kelly
Go-ahead for expansion at a picturesque beer garden will provide a tourism boost to Peebles, a former leader of Scottish Borders Council believes.
SBC has approved planning permission for the installation of a timber pergola at the Bridge Inn at Port Brae.
The Bridge Inn is a prominent public house dating from circa 1900, occupying a sensitive and visually important position at the entrance to Tweed Bridge.
The plan is to remove one of the existing large freestanding umbrellas (‘jumbrellas’) within the beer garden and replace it with a small, open-sided pergola structure with a pitched, slated roof.
The application received enthusiastic support from a neighbour, Shola Haslam, SBC council leader until she stood down in 2021.
She said: “The Bridge Inn is a brilliant business employing local people and supporting local good causes.
“They have a lovely beer garden, one of the best in Peebles, with views over the river. It is very popular with locals and tourists alike.
“The addition of the pergola will add character and interest to the beer garden, enhancing its features and making it even more attractive.
“This will boost financial investment in the town, encourage tourism and build on its character and image.
“As one of the closest neighbours to the Bridge Inn we have never had any issues with noise or behaviour of its patrons and have a good relationship with the management who go above and beyond to ensure that neighbours are kept informed and looked after. I have no hesitation in supporting this application.”
Ranald Dods, SBC planning officer, in his statement approving the application, stated: “The proposal would see an open sided timber structure, with a roof finished in Scottish slate to match the roof of the main building.
“The materials are acceptable and, although it could be said that the style of the building would not be typically Scottish, this is a small scale development which, with its open sided nature and slate roof, would not have a negative effect on the character of the listed building, the setting of the listed buildings nor on the character and appearance of the conservation area.
“Indeed, the site would benefit from the proposed removal of one of the existing ‘jumbrellas’. The proposal can therefore be accepted. Had circumstances been different, I may have reached a different conclusion.”
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