McKillen takes up Residence...

Entrepreneur adds VIPs’ club to his portfolio

IT was the old stomping ground of the Celtic Tiger cubs back in the day, where boozy lunches occasionally stretched into the wee small hours of the next day.

So now as colour begins to return to the economy’s cheeks and the Prosecco is once again flowing, it is perhaps only fitting that Residence Club is under new ownership – by one of the country’s wealthiest up-and-coming cubs.

Paddy McKillen Jr, the son of mega-rich developer Paddy Sr, has snapped up the St Stephen’s Green club with his group Press Up Entertainment.

The private club was sold for an undisclosed sum and has closed for refurbishment.

When it reopens in the spring, the club will operate under a new name and the Great Unwashed will be welcome as they abandon the private members policy.

The latest acquisition is just one of a number of prominent pubs and clubs acquired by Press UP as McKillen Óg blazes an impressive trail through the Dublin drinking and dining scene.

Press UP already owns Dawson St pub Peruke & Periwig, Sophie and The Dean on Harcourt Street as well as the VCC Cocktail Club, The Workman’s Club, The Garage, and Howl at the Moon (which they bought for hotel development), Dollard & Co, Angelina’s and Roberto.

They also own the Bison bar, the Captain America’s restaurants and the Irish Wagamama restaurants, while in late 2017, they bought Temple Bar restaurant Elephant & Castle. The group is also behind the newly refurbished Stella Cinema in Rathmines.

And to cap it all, this summer, it plans to open a 40-room hotel called the Devlin in Ranelagh, which will feature a 50-seater subterranean cinema.

Paddy Jr lives in Dublin while his father and brother live in LA where they recently sold a property to Beyoncé...