Dwyers pub in Cork city centre loses planning appeal for outdoor seating area

Planning board rejects Cork pub’s appeal to retain pandemic-era outdoor seating, citing visual impact and precedent concerns

Dwyers of Washington Street in Cork had appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála for the permanent installation of an outdoor seating area. Picture: Denis Minihane.

A Cork city centre pub has failed in its appeal for an outdoor seating area, with the planning board saying it would create an “undesirable precedent” in the area.

Dwyers of Cork on Washington Street had appealed to An Coimisiún Pleanála for the permanent installation of an outdoor seating area, having initially installed under a temporary planning permission during the covid-19 pandemic.

The popular bar was knocked back by Cork City Council late last year for permission to keep the area, with planners at City Hall saying the development forms an “obtrusive structure that has a negative visual impact” on the building, which is a protected structure, and the area.

In its appeal, Dwyers filed a 60-page document to support its bid for planning permission with An Coimisiún Pleanála, citing the positive impact it had brought to the area and how it would adhere to Government policy to support the night-time economy.

In 2021, it applied to Cork City Council for seven new awnings to the exterior of the bar on Little Cross Street and a further five new awnings to the exterior on Washington Street. This was at a time when there had been a significant turn to outdoor dining during the era of pandemic restrictions.

A condition imposed by the council at the time was that Moscato Ltd – which trades as Dwyers - would have to reapply in three years as the permission was only temporary in nature.

After being knocked back in its planning bid three years on, it hit out at City Hall in its appeal as it highlighted “direct public investments” in Princes St and Union Quay to facilitate high-quality outdoor dining environments.

A section of the outdoor dining area of Dwyers of Cork, Washington Street.

“Dwyer’s of Washington St has undertaken its development entirely at its own expense,” it said. “This significant investment, which is in the realm of €100,000, has been made in good faith and with the clear understanding that the development was not only acceptable but welcomed and aligned with council objectives.

“We note that other premises have benefitted from publicly-funded public realm improvements.” 

In appraising the appeal, an inspector for An Coimisiún Pleanála said there were “significant inconsistencies between the development granted temporary permission and what has been installed, including the installation of a fixed bulky metal support frame”.

The inspector said the development was “visually incongruous” and caused harm to the character, setting and quality of the protected structure and architectural conservation area.

The inspector noted: “In terms of the concentration of existing street furniture in the area, having visited the site, I note that the outdoor seating area to the side of Rearden’s Pub on the opposite side of Little Cross Street remains in place following a refusal.

“As previously noted in my assessment above, enforcement is a matter for the local authority. Given that the outdoor seating area to the side of Rearden’s Pub is unauthorised, I do not consider that there is an over-concentration of permitted street furniture in the area.” 

Nevertheless, the inspector recommended refusing permission, saying it would “set an undesirable precedent for similar such developments”.

All three board members agreed in making its decision to refuse permission for the outdoor area.