The Newyearfield Visited
Photos
Local Area
Livingston v Partick thistle, premier sports cup Saturday 18th July. Game was a 1-1 draw with Thistle gaining a bonus point by winning penalty shootout (premier sports cup games ending in a draw do a penalty shootout for a bonus point). Livingston sits in West Lothian, bang in the middle of Scotland’s central belt – a proper New Town that popped up in 1962 as one of the five planned to ease overcrowding from Glasgow and Edinburgh. It’s built along the banks of the River Almond, surrounded by a mix of modern housing, business parks (it was once part of “Silicon Glen”), big shopping centres, and pockets of older countryside. The town centre feels open and planned, with plenty of those legendary roundabouts that make visitors dizzy. Go back nearly 1,000 years and this sheltered Almond valley was royal hunting country. Kings and nobles galloped about with hawks and hounds chasing red deer, wild boar, and hare. Fast-forward to the 12th century and a Flemish (or possibly Saxon) noble called De Leving rocked up, got land from King David I’s lot, built a fortified tower (the Peel of Livingston – long gone), and the place became “Leving’s Toun”. The old village still exists in the middle of the modern town, with its 1732 Old Parish Kirk standing on even earlier holy ground.
The Pub
The NewYearField (often styled The Newyearfield) takes its name directly from that ancient royal hunting ground. The old Scottish New Year fell on 1 April back then, so the kings would kick off the year with the first big hunt in this very valley. The royal lodge itself has vanished, but the place name “Newyearfield” lives on – and Wetherspoons nicked it for the pub. Proper local roots. It sits in prime position at Unit 1, Livingston Designer Outlet, Almondvale Avenue, Livingston, West Lothian EH54 6QX (right at the entrance to the shopping mall). It’s a spacious, modern Wetherspoons – family-friendly with step-free access, baby change, Wi-Fi, TV screens, and both indoor seating plus outdoor areas (including mall-side tables and a beer garden). Toilets right next to bar, modern shopping complex type pub. Very busy but staff were good
Football Team
Livingston FC (nicknamed The Lions or just Livi) are the local team. Founded way back in 1943 as Ferranti Thistle – a works team for an Edinburgh electronics firm – they moved west in 1995, became Livingston FC, and settled into the purpose-built Almondvale Stadium (now known as the Home of the Set Fare Arena, capacity around 9,500, with an artificial pitch that laughs at Scottish weather). They’ve been the ultimate yo-yo club – bouncing between the Scottish Premiership and Championship – but they’ve had their moments: winning the Scottish League Cup in 2004 (beating Hibernian in the final) and earning promotion back to the top flight via the play-offs in 2024-25. Amber and black colours, resilient underdog spirit, and a loyal fanbase that’s seen it all. The stadium is walkable from the town centre/outlet area, so handy for a pre- or post-match pint.
Travel
First 77 to Buchanan street, citylink 902 to Livingston. Reverse route on way back after football
Beers
Belhaven 80 shilling, £1.99. good pint. Belhaven Brewery is officially Scotland's oldest surviving regional brewery. Established in 1719 in Dunbar, East Lothian it's nestled in the local barley fields along the coast, with its name literally translating to "Beautiful Harbour". Commercial brewing on the Dunbar site stretches back to 1200s Benedictine monks, though the official brewery business was formalized in 1719. While still brewed in Dunbar using local East Lothian water and yeast, Belhaven was acquired in 2005 by English brewery Greene King. Belhaven’s 80 Shilling (affectionately called "80 Bob") is one of Scotland's most traditional flagship heavy ales. In Scottish brewing history, the "Shilling" (/-) system was used to categorize beer strength based on the historic tax or invoice price per barrel. Historically, 60/- was light, 70/- was heavy, and 80/- was "export" or premium strength. 80 Bob is a traditional Scottish Heavy / Amber Ale (3.9% ABV). Tasting Notes; pours a rich copper-brown with a light bronze head. Dominated by warm, toasted malt, caramel, and "Horlicks" maltiness, balanced by faint hints of orange peel and soft dried fruit. Food Pairings; the rich, caramel-malt profile of 80 Shilling makes it a natural match for hearty pub foods like Sausage & Mash, Venison or Beef Stew and Aged Cheddar. Famous for its iconic red-brick chimney, Belhaven brews classic cask ales like Belhaven Best (a staple in Scottish pubs), Belhaven Black Stout, and modern craft offerings like Twisted Thistle IPA.