Moran to sell pubs to focus on hotels

Moran Hotel Group is to sell three of its Dublin pubs in order to focus on operating hotels.

The pubs to be sold include the Playwright in Blackrock, the Baroque in Clondalkin and the Pierhouse hotel in Skerries. They are set to be sold by public auction by the end of April.

The group owns the Red Cow hotel in Dublin and the Silver Springs in Cork and recently opened the Crown Moran Hotel in London.

Tom Moran, who heads the group, is also thought to have applied for planning permission from Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council to build a massive 13-storey hotel complex in Ticknock, Sandyford, south Dublin. The €80m project will begin later this year if planning permission is granted.