The group has taken on the Kilderkin pub on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, it’s third site with Heineken-owned Star Pubs.
Located near Holyrood Palace and the Scottish Parliament, the pub will reopen in mid-March, as the Parliament Arms following a joint £170,000 refurbishment, creating 20 new jobs.
The makeover will enhance the building’s exterior, injecting more character in line with the surrounding architecture and installing new signage and lighting.
Inside, the pub will be upgraded with smart traditional décor. The redesign will renovate the wood-panelled walls, timber floors and bar, with leather banquette seating, patterned wallpaper and fabrics inspired by Scottish flora and fauna.
Important sites
Three eight-seater booths with saloon-style doors will also be installed for smaller gatherings while a function area at the rear will be available for hire for larger parties and will host regular entertainment from Scottish comedians and musicians.
Star Pubs operations director Matt Dyson said: “We want the Parliament Arms to do justice to its position close to two of Edinburgh’s most important sites.
“We’re delighted that Lomond Leisure Group are operating the pub; their commitment to Scottish hospitality is a perfect fit for The Parliament Arms.”
Scottish gins and whiskies will be a key part of The Parliament Arms’ drinks selection, accompanied by regular tastings and events with local producers.
Food will focus on home-cooked Scottish fayre with a twist made with ingredients sourced from Scotland.
Lomond Leisure Group director Chris Thynne said: “We enjoy partnering with Star Pubs – they’re supportive, transparent and easy to do business with.
Collaborative approach
“The Parliament Arms is our second refurbishment with them in the last year. We like their collaborative approach; they listen to us and deliver what we want.”
Having added three new venues to their portfolio since the start of 2025, Lomond Leisure are now considering expansion in tourist hotspots such as Edinburgh and St Andrews, in addition to destination spots in northern England.
“We’re seeing strong like-for-like sales growth at our venues, giving us confidence to increase our group. We believe there’s a market for delivering great quality food, drink and hospitality”, Thynne added.
“This is helped by our focus on local produce, as consumers have a new level of interest in sustainably sourced ingredients. When it comes to expansion, we’re ambitious but cautious; we’re not in any rush and won’t compromise. Location is everything for us and new sites will have to fit our business model.”
With the opening of The Parliament Arms, Lomond Leisure will operate six hospitality venues across Scotland including Gael & Grain, Van Winkle and Mharsanta in Glasgow, Kirk O’The Lochs in Tarbet and the Tolbooth Tavern in Edinburgh.
