Aidan Crowe of Banta Restaurants Ltd withdrew a third-party appeal at An Bord Pleanála against a Dublin City Council decision that gives the green light to Keywell DAC to increase the number of hotel rooms by 104 from 58 to 162, and add an extra floor to The Clarence and adjoining Dollard House.
Mr Crowe’s Cleaver East restaurant is a tenant at the Clarence Hotel in Dublin’s Temple Bar and An Bord Pleanála has now granted planning permission for the development. ?
Banta Restaurants stalled the redevelopment plan last month when lodging an appeal, after initially lodging a letter of support for the project in December.
In the initial letter of support lodged with the council, Banta Restaurants Ltd stated that “in our capacity as the licensee operator of the restaurant, Cleaver East, which is located within The Clarence Hotel, Banta Restaurants Ltd wishes to express full support for the proposed planning application”.
The Clarence Hotel, Banta Restaurants Ltd wishes to express full support for the proposed planning application for the development, extension and refurbishment works at the hotel”.
In a U-turn by Banta Restaurants Ltd last month, director at the firm, Aidan Crowe, lodged the third-party appeal.
Mr Crowe said in his appeal that “approving further tourist accommodation contributes to the gradual erosion of the city centre as a lived-in space, undermining national and local policy objectives around compact growth and sustainable communities.”
The planned hotel revamp includes turning Cleaver East into a contemporary music pub; replace Roberta’s Restaurant with a premium event facility; refurbish and relaunch the Workman’s Cellar as a premium event-driven late night music venue; and reposition Anne’s Bar as a specialist bar.
Keywell DAC is part of Lifestyle Hospitality Capital (LHC) which last year bought a majority stake in the Dean Hotel Group, that included the boutique Clarence Hotel, from the Press Up Group.
The deal came only months after Bono, The Edge and Paddy McKillen Sr sold the Clarence Hotel in October 2023 to the Dean Hotel Group, after more than three decades of ownership.
However, it continues to trade on its U2 association, with the website stating it is “also known as the “U2 Hotel” or “Bono Hotel”.
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