The team behind a recently opened Leith pub is fighting a council decision which could force it to remove a £35,000 terrace from outside the venue.
The Keelson, which opened on The Shore in June, has appealed after City of Edinburgh Council refused retrospective planning permission for a timber decking area built outside the pub.
The venue is co-owned by chef James Murray, Michael Lynch and Kyle Jamieson.
Murray previously worked as head chef at Timberyard when the Edinburgh restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2023, and the team is also behind nearby Dogstar, a cool neighbourhood restaurant that was added to the Michelin Guide this year.
The Keelson occupies a B-listed early 19th-century building at 58 Shore.
The terrace was constructed ahead of the pub’s opening without planning permission, with a retrospective application subsequently submitted for decking at the front of the premises to provide outdoor seating.
The owners say around £35,000 was spent on the structure.
Edinburgh planners rejected the application after concluding that the decking had a harmful impact on the character of the listed building and the surrounding Leith Conservation Area.
Planning officers said the structure disrupted the appearance of the historic frontage and was inappropriate for its prominent position on The Shore.
Local residents also raised objections, including concerns about its appearance and accessibility.
The Keelson team is now challenging the decision and has launched a petition calling for the council to reconsider.
Co-owner Michael Lynch said the terrace was designed to provide additional outdoor seating while helping the pub manage customers outside and improve access around the entrance.
In the petition, he said: “The decking area was developed with the intention of enhancing the customer experience and providing more outdoor seating options.”
He also said the structure helped address uneven paving outside the premises and provided a safer entrance to the venue.
The owners argue that The Keelson has quickly established itself as a neighbourhood pub and say the business has created 22 jobs since opening.
Murray has said the team will remove the decking if its challenge ultimately fails.
The £35,000 investment formed part of the wider transformation of the prominent Shore premises, creating a pub focused on drinks, snacks and rotisserie chicken.
The Keelson followed the team’s launch of Dogstar on Portland Place, where Murray has continued to build on the reputation he developed during his time at Timberyard.
Dogstar was added to the Michelin Guide in September, with inspectors highlighting its seasonal cooking and use of Scottish produce.
The dispute will now determine whether the terrace can remain outside the historic Leith property.