Wetherspoon looking for more pub sites as it hails Irish growth
WETHERSPOON will continue to look for other sites in Ireland, as it enjoys what it describes as “great success” with its five pubs in the Republic.
Speaking as the business begins work on a new pub in Dublin, company chairman Tim Martin said that he was “pleased” to have three new sites in development in Ireland.
“We have enjoyed great success with our existing five pubs in the Republic of Ireland, and are pleased that we now have three new sites in development,” Mr Martin said.
“We will continue to look for other sites.”
The latest development in the heart of the capital will see the UK chain invest €4m in a new pub on Lower Abbey Street. As many as 75 jobs will be created as part of the development.
The pub, which is to be called The Silver Penny, is due to open in May 2019.
Two buildings are being restored to create the pub. The scheme will feature two bars, with the main bar at groundfloor level.
A second, more intimate bar, will be situated in a former banqueting room upstairs. A small external terrace will link to the first-floor gallery.
Next door will be accessed via a glazed link building, where a former chapel building will have an opening glass roof to provide an outdoor dining space.
Separately, the group is developing a pub and 92-room hotel in a row of derelict properties at a cost of €18.5m in Dublin 2.
The development, which is set to open in the summer of 2019, will be named the Keavan’s Port Hotel, based on historic records dating back to 1673, which show Camden Street Upper and Lower was originally called Keavan’s Port.
This is Wetherspoon’s biggest single investment and will result in its largest hotel alongside a pub. Earlier this month the group reported a 5.5pc increase in like-for-like sales in the 13 weeks to October 28.