JD Wetherspoon's €4m expansion in doubt

Concerns of an over-concentration of pubs in the Camden St area of Dublin have resulted in British pub operator JD Wetherspoon’s plans for a €4m bar and hotel development being put on hold.

The development follows Dublin City Council’s request for more information from the company about its plan.

Wetherspoon’s planning application has attracted a number of objections from local residents.

The company has five pubs in Ireland and a long-term target of up to 30.

Its plan for Camden St would be its most ambitious project here to date, consisting of a bar and adjoining 98-room hotel, creating up to 100 jobs.

One objection noted that there are already 14 pubs in the Camden St/Wexford St area, with 13 cafes/restaurants also serving alcohol.

The objector stated: “Clearly, Camden St is more than adequately served for the purchase and consumption of alcohol.”

Dublin City Council has told the applicant that it will encourage entertainment uses in the area which help create an exciting city for residents and tourists alike.

It added: “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 has told JD Wetherspoon that it has “concern in relation to the over-concentration of bars and restaurants on Camden St”.

It also expressed concern at the decrease in the number of planned rooms for the hotel — and is seeking justification to that end — and plans for an outdoor seating area, and potential resultant noise pollution.

A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said yesterday: “We are keen to open a pub in Camden St and believe it will benefit the city in terms of investment, jobs and the redevelopment of a disused site.”

Consultants for the company have already stated to Dublin Council that closing time will be 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and that “the proposed bar will not be a late-night bar in the traditional sense”.

They also said the impact on local residents will be limited, confirming that there will be no music played at the venue that includes the planned bar.

They have pointed out to the council that the site is vacant and the plan “will deliver a commercial development that will create vibrancy at street level and restore vitality to the surrounding area”.

Wetherspoon has four other acquired Irish sites in varying stages of development.