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  • Too Many Pubs in Dublin?

    • 03/29/2016
    • ADB
    • 0 Comments

    Now, it seems a silly question: Can there be too many pubs in Ireland? 

    The answer, even in Dublin, is apparently, YES. 

    ’tis a truly sad day in the Emerald Isle. 

    Plans for a new $4 million JD Wetherspoons super-pub and hotel have been put on hold due to concerns about an over-concentration of pubs in the Camden Street area of Dublin.

    Yes, you read that right…TOO Many pubs in Dublin. 

    It follows Dublin City Council requesting further information from the UK pub giant on its plans for a super-pub on the site of a former homeless hostel at Camden Hall.

    Wetherspoons, founded by Tim Martin, plans to open 30 pubs in Ireland over the next five years.

    This particular application has led to a number of objections by local residents against the Camden Hall plan, which also proposes a 98-bedroom hotel at the site. It said the scheme would create 100 jobs if it gets the green light.

    In one objection, local resident Barry Chambers told the city council "enough is enough, the area is at tipping point and already fast becoming another Temple Bar - great for revellers and operators, but not so good for everyone else".

    Mr Chambers urged the planning officer in the case to take a stroll along Camden Street and lanes off the street at closing time at night "to witness the mayhem first hand".

    Mr Chambers said there were already 14 pubs in the Camden Street/Wexford Street area with 13 cafes/restaurants also serving alcohol. "Clearly, Camden Street is more than adequately served for the purchase and consumption of alcohol," he said.

    American Bars would ask the questions: How many other residents are complaining? How long have those residents lived in the area? Did they know all the pubs and restaurants were there first when they moved in? Has anyone asked the pubs and restaurants and their workers about the issue since they generate taxes and income for the area? 

    In response to concerns by local residents, the City Council told the applicants that it would encourage entertainment uses in the area that would help create an exciting city for residents and tourists.

    The council stated: "However, there is a need to strike an appropriate balance between the role of these entertainment uses in the economy of the city and ensure a balanced mix of uses and protect the amenities of residents from an over-concentration of late-night venues."

    The council told the applicants that it has "concern in relation to the over-concentration of bars and restaurants on Camden Street".

    It stated that "the Planning Authority has a concern with the reduction in the number of hotel rooms and the inclusion of a 1,184 sq metre of bar/restaurant/lounge/dining and outdoor seating with tables and chairs"

    It said its concerns were due to an "over-concentration" of bars and restaurants in the area and a "shortage of hotel rooms in the city".

    The Council also stated that it had concerns in relation to the noise from the proposed lower ground-floor restaurant and outdoor seating area. AB  question: Do any of the council members ever go to the area to eat or drink? Who monitors the noise and judges what “too much” or “too loud” actually is? 

    As a result, the Council has asked Wetherspoons to justify the reduction in the number of hotel bedrooms and submit a map showing the number of bars on Camden Street and Wexford Street in order to establish if there is an over- concentration in the area.

    Consultants for Wetherspoons stated that closing time would be 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and "the proposed bar will not be a late-night bar in the traditional sense".

    Oh yes, the city does look out for its own interests. The site already has planning permission for the hotel portion, but not the pub. 

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Too Many Pubs in Dublin?

Now, it seems a silly question: Can there be too many pubs in Ireland? 

The answer, even in Dublin, is apparently, YES. 

’tis a truly sad day in the Emerald Isle. 

Plans for a new $4 million JD Wetherspoons super-pub and hotel have been put on hold due to concerns about an over-concentration of pubs in the Camden Street area of Dublin.

Yes, you read that right…TOO Many pubs in Dublin. 

It follows Dublin City Council requesting further information from the UK pub giant on its plans for a super-pub on the site of a former homeless hostel at Camden Hall.

Wetherspoons, founded by Tim Martin, plans to open 30 pubs in Ireland over the next five years.

This particular application has led to a number of objections by local residents against the Camden Hall plan, which also proposes a 98-bedroom hotel at the site. It said the scheme would create 100 jobs if it gets the green light.

In one objection, local resident Barry Chambers told the city council "enough is enough, the area is at tipping point and already fast becoming another Temple Bar - great for revellers and operators, but not so good for everyone else".

Mr Chambers urged the planning officer in the case to take a stroll along Camden Street and lanes off the street at closing time at night "to witness the mayhem first hand".

Mr Chambers said there were already 14 pubs in the Camden Street/Wexford Street area with 13 cafes/restaurants also serving alcohol. "Clearly, Camden Street is more than adequately served for the purchase and consumption of alcohol," he said.

American Bars would ask the questions: How many other residents are complaining? How long have those residents lived in the area? Did they know all the pubs and restaurants were there first when they moved in? Has anyone asked the pubs and restaurants and their workers about the issue since they generate taxes and income for the area? 

In response to concerns by local residents, the City Council told the applicants that it would encourage entertainment uses in the area that would help create an exciting city for residents and tourists.

The council stated: "However, there is a need to strike an appropriate balance between the role of these entertainment uses in the economy of the city and ensure a balanced mix of uses and protect the amenities of residents from an over-concentration of late-night venues."

The council told the applicants that it has "concern in relation to the over-concentration of bars and restaurants on Camden Street".

It stated that "the Planning Authority has a concern with the reduction in the number of hotel rooms and the inclusion of a 1,184 sq metre of bar/restaurant/lounge/dining and outdoor seating with tables and chairs"

It said its concerns were due to an "over-concentration" of bars and restaurants in the area and a "shortage of hotel rooms in the city".

The Council also stated that it had concerns in relation to the noise from the proposed lower ground-floor restaurant and outdoor seating area. AB  question: Do any of the council members ever go to the area to eat or drink? Who monitors the noise and judges what “too much” or “too loud” actually is? 

As a result, the Council has asked Wetherspoons to justify the reduction in the number of hotel bedrooms and submit a map showing the number of bars on Camden Street and Wexford Street in order to establish if there is an over- concentration in the area.

Consultants for Wetherspoons stated that closing time would be 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and "the proposed bar will not be a late-night bar in the traditional sense".

Oh yes, the city does look out for its own interests. The site already has planning permission for the hotel portion, but not the pub. 

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