LEISURE

Pubs giant JD Wetherspoon, headed by its vocal Brexitbacking founder chairman Tim Martin, has announced its biggest ever single investment – into the European Union.

The company said yesterday that it is to invest €15 million (£13m) into developing a new pub and 98-bedroom hotel in Dublin city centre, which will create around 200 jobs.

Development work at the site, currently a row of derelict properties in Camden Street, will begin in February, with the pub and hotel set to open in early 2019.

Announcing the investment in the Republic of Ireland’s capital yesterday, Martin, who founded the chain in 1979 as a 24-year-old, emphasised the commercial rationale for the bumper investment.

“We are looking forward to developing the site into a fantastic pub and hotel,” he said.

“It will be the biggest single investment undertaken by Wetherspoon and will result in our largest hotel alongside a superb pub.

“Our pubs in the Republic of Ireland are thriving and 0 Tim Martin’s group to spend €15 million on pub and hotel development we are confident that the pub window which was crafted by and hotel will be a great asset Earley & Company (church to Dublin and act as a catalyst decorators and stone carvers) for other businesses to invest who were based at the site. in the city.” Martin, who owns 28 per

The company has five pubs cent of Wetherspoon and in the country, including The whose 950-plus pub estate Linen Weaver in Cork and The in Britain includes about 70 Three Tun Tavern in Blackrock. outlets in Scotland, has repeatedly The new Dublin pub will accused the EU of being be set over two levels and, unusually an undemocratically elected for Wetherspoon, will body sustained by political feature a beer garden. elites.

Some historical aspects of He has used several company the derelict buildings will be updates to criticise the likes retained and restored. These of German chancellor Angela include a circular stained glass Merkel, former French president

TIM MARTIN

“We are confident that the pub and hotel will be a great asset to Dublin and act as a catalyst for other businesses to invest in the city.”