Marathon runners to get a pint at the finish

Thursday April 25th 2024

Edinburgh Marathon Finish Pinkie Fields

The Edinburgh Marathon will finish in Pinkie Playing Fields in Musselburgh

Written by Local Democracy Reporter, Marie Sharp

Runners at this year’s Edinburgh Marathon will be able to celebrate crossing the finish line with a specially designed pint of ‘Cool Down Lager.’

East Lothian Licensing Board today granted a licence to Bellfield Brewery to operate two bars at this year’s event with those taking part able to grab a pint from 10am on the day.

And they were told the brewery had worked with marathon organisers to create low alcohol beer to mark the occasion, which has been called Cool Down Lager and will be offered alongside a range of alcoholic and non alcoholic beers.

An application to open the bars between 10am and 5pm on the day of this year’s marathon on Sunday May 26th went before the licensing board with their licensing standards officer raising the point that the early start was outwith normal licensing hours policy.

However organisers said the early opening time, which had been approved in the past, ensured people were not queueing up for a drink after crossing the finish line.

The bars will be sited in the charity village at the finish line on Pinkie Playing Fields, in Musselburgh and the board was told the event began with a half marathon which saw some finishers arrive at the village shortly after 9am on the day.

Organisers told the board the early opening allowed traffic to flow through the bars, adding participants did not hang around for multiple pints.

They said: “These are runners who have been training for three or four months for this event and having a beer when they cross the finish line is something quite special to them. There have never been any issues of drunkenness or anything like that (at this event).”

The Edinburgh Marathon has been held every year since 2003 with the exception of two years during the Covid pandemic.

Originally following a route throughout Edinburgh starting at Meadowbank Stadium and heading down to the former Royal Yacht Britannia, the route changed in 2007 and starts in the city before the majority of the run takes place along the East Lothian coast looping back to finish in Musselburgh.

The board unanimously approved the licence for the day.

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