‘Met’ to go mega

Cork city’s landmark and classic late Victorian/Edwardian-era hotel the Metropole has bought an adjoining, rear quayside site, the former PJ O’Heas garage, for c €1.3 million. The significant acquisition will facilitate an ambitious extension and hotel upgrade plan that could see a further €10-15 million spent in e coming years.

New owners of the famed Metropole Hotel on MacCurtain Street, Phillips Hotel Holdings have followed their €5m purchase of the 112-bed hotel earlier this year with a €1.3m site swoop on the adjacent 0.36 acres plot vacated by PJ O’Heas garage on St Patrick’s Quay.

The motor company relocated to Little Island in 2009, but went out of business in the downturn, in 2009.