Plans lodged for major expansion of popular Limerick hotel

A planning application has been lodged in a bid to transform a number of vacant retail premises and expand Limerick's Savoy Hotel. Stock Image.

A planning application has been lodged in a bid to transform a number of vacant retail premises and expand Limerick's Savoy Hotel. 

The proposed plans would see a number of vacant adjoining spaces on Bedford Row converted and a new connection established to the hotel.

The submission was made by Kirkland Investments Ltd and would see the hotel create 28 new bedrooms.

Vacant retail premises on Bedford Row and Henry St are part of the plans, including the amalgamation of a former clothing store on Henry St and Techstar which closed earlier this year.

As part of the plans, a new cafe/restaurant space would open to the public as well as to hotel guests.

The former Dealz store on the corner of Bedford Row would also be transformed into a meeting space, with a bar area.

A number of other stores which recently closed would also be part of the amalgamation, including Central Shoes, Noel's Menswear Limerick and Schuh to provide the new hotel rooms.

A winter garden on the ground floor is also part of the plan.

The public can make submissions until October 28, and a decision is due to be made by Limerick City and County Council on November 18.

Separately, planning permission has been sought for a new €4m boutique hotel on Patrick St, which would comprise 35 bedrooms.

The planning permission has been sought by developer Tony Enright, who recently spearheaded the development of the former Dunnes Stores on O’Connell St into a restaurant which was recently given permission by the local council.

The new boutique hotel has been described as “boutique by design, Limerick by nature”. 

The site would be a “warm” and “characterful” city hotel which would be “unmistakably connected to Limerick”, according to the plans. 

The Savoy and the nearby George Hotel were taken over earlier this year by Moran Hospitality, a company founded by the late Tom Moran.