Planners said that proposed development would undermine the character of the site
The Giddy Dolphin in Dublin
A new Temple Bar “superpub”– The Giddy Dolphin – has been refused retention permission by Dublin City Council planners.
Last May, Keywell, who in March became owners of the Clarence Hotel and Dollard House, lodged a planning application to retain the change of use at The Giddy Dolphin from retail (it was formerly a delicatessen) to licensed premises with food service. The premises is at 2-5 Wellington Quay and 1-5 Essex Street East in Dublin 2.
Planning documents show that before preparing a comprehensive planning application for their properties, Keywell was lodging the retention application “in the interests of protecting existing contractual employment arrangements on site”. The application stated that The Giddy Dolphin is a sitting tenant in Dollard House.
However, Dublin City Council has concluded that “the proposed retention of the licensed premises in its current format would constitute a ‘superpub’ which is discouraged, and would add to an over-concentration of licensed premises in the immediate area, which would be detrimental to other uses in the locality”.
The Giddy Dolphin in Dublin
Council planners concluded that the applicant “has not demonstrated how the proposal will not erode or directly negatively impact on cultural or artistic facilities within the Temple Bar area, or complement the role of Temple Bar as a mixed-use cultural quarter”.
The planners said that, on balance, the proposed development would undermine the character of the site, the streetscape and the amenities of nearby residents.
They added that it would result in an undesirable precedent for similar type development, and would depreciate the value of nearby property.
Declan O’Brien, a resident of Temple Bar, was the sole objector to the application. He told the council there is already an over-saturation of licensed premises in the area.
Temple Bar is a favoured meeting place for tourists.
Mr O’Brien stated that if the application was approved, “it would normalise a flagrant breach of the conditions for the existing planning permission”.
Keywell’s application had argued that “the proposed change of use is consistent under the current land use zoning” and compatible with the permitted use of upper floors for micro brewery, restaurant and hotel use.
