JD Wetherspoon plans its 'biggest investment so far' on a new Dublin hotel and super pub
The Camden Street property is due to open in early 2019.
PUB CHAIN JD Wetherspoon has announced it will open its Camden Street hotel and ‘super pub’ in early 2019 after a €15 million investment.
The UK company plans to start development work on the site, which will include both 98-room accommodation and a large pub, in February next year.
JD Wetherspoon bought the Camden Hall Hostel, formerly Ireland’s largest homeless hostel, in 2014. Planning for the development was granted in April.
Dublin City Council had ruled that a 244 sq metre ‘dining area’ and courtyard with tables and chairs should be omitted from the plan after complaints from locals about potential noise issues. However, this was overturned on appeal.
JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: “ We are looking forward to developing the site into a fantastic pub and hotel.
“It will be the biggest single investment undertaken by Wetherspoon and will result in our largest hotel alongside a superb pub.
“Our pubs in the Republic of Ireland are thriving and we are confident that the pub and hotel will be a great asset to Dublin and act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the city.”
The company already operates four pubs in and around Dublin, as well as the Linen Weaver in Cork. It has an additional five venues in Northern Ireland.
Opposition
Many local residents, however, were against the plans for Dublin’s south inner city. One complainant, who owns buildings and lives on the street, said that the proposed development was excessive.
“The location of a super pub within a compact urban residential community is not acceptable,” said Colm Doyle, a conservation architect speaking on behalf of resident Peter O’Reilly.
“The noise, nuisance, refuse and rubbish associated with a ‘super pub’ of this size are not suited to the site.”
Written by Paul Hosford and posted on TheJournal.ie
