From post office to pizza haven: Hector’s rises in Dunbar

Patrons are Daniel Harrison, Nick Kourie and Emily Luke

I can’t say I’m sorry to see Pizza Hut enter administration, especially when we have so many excellent pizzerias in the UK deserving of our custom. Hector’s in Dunbar is one of them, a small business serving the local community that supports local suppliers, and probably the best pizza place in East Lothian. 

The building on the High Street has had several identities over the years, from a post office to a soft play. Following a poorly timed opening in 2020, the restaurant and take-away has built up a good reputation and was recently purchased by Daniel Harrison, Nick Kourie and Emily Luke, who also own Pilgrim Bar in Edinburgh.

We pop along on a dreich Sunday afternoon to sample the new menu, which has been updated since the new owners took over. The list of pizzas covers all the classic options, as well some more daring choices like Nduja, Gamberi and Goats Cheese & Walnut, and the ever controversial Smoked Ham & Pineapple. 

We opt for a Margherita, the true test of a pizzeria, which is tasty, but adding the two basil leaves to the list of ingredients feels like false advertising. The Giardiniera, on the other hand, is full of flavour and packed with sundried tomatoes, red onion, artichoke and olives. The quality of the local ingredients shines through, like cheese from Doddington Dairy, however, it is Mungoswell’s flour that is really highlighted to best effect in the deliciously light pizza bases, which are somehow both soft and crispy with just the right amount of char.

Nick Kourie explains that these producers and the local clientele were key to the partners decision to buy the restaurant:

“If the Dunbar public can continue to get behind the business, there is a great deal we can achieve. We would like to thank them for their loyal custom. Too many hospitality businesses have folded since the pandemic, and we certainly don’t want Hector’s to be one of them. We will continue to look at showcasing the artisan produce of the area.”

Since the purchase in the summer, the new owners have introduced a new drinks menu and new lunch options introducing a folded sandwich with three different offerings weekly, though we are told that the Chicken Club has been so popular it is always top of the list.

We finish with a Tiramisu, another Italian classic that is often disappointing, but were treated to a decadent, creamy dessert with an optimal hit of strong espresso.

With plans to revamp the restaurant’s interiors, it will be exciting to see what this former post office delivers next.

Hector’s - 32a High St, Dunbar, East Lothian, EH42 1JH

Opening hours: 12-9pm every day