Hotel & Restaurant Sector

Ashford Castle owners secure planning permission for 60-bedroom hotel in Dublin city centre

The Journal.ie - 03.06.2022

The owners of Ashford Castle have secured planning permission for a ‘boutique’ five-star 60 bedroom hotel for the capital. This follows An Bord Pleanála granting planning permission to Red Carnation Hotels (UK) Ltd for the conversion and extension of a former Jesuit university students’ residence at Hatch Hall into a 60-bedroom hotel. Director at CBRE John Hughes told Dublin City Council that while Dublin has a strong ‘pipeline’ of hotels, only 3% is classified as being in the 5-star category. Hughes stated that currently there is limited supply of five star hotels in Dublin making up just 12 of the 214 hotels in the capital equating to 1,793 bedrooms or a share of 8%.

Six-month extension for operation of hospitality outdoor seating areas

RTE Business – 17.05.2022

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has received Cabinet approval to extend the operation of outdoor seating areas for pubs and restaurants as the hospitality industry enters the summer season. The Government agreed to a six-month extension to the legislation which permits the sale and consumption of alcohol in outdoor seating areas. The law was due to lapse on 31 May, but it has now been extended until the end of November. It follows the waiving of fees for on-street furniture last week. Minister McEntee said the legislation has been hugely helpful to the hospitality sector and she hoped it will again be used by many businesses during the summer months. The Minister plans to bring forward a longer term solution as part of wider reforms of licencing law.