Property That Housed Derry And Sallyanne Clarke’s L’Ecrivain Restaurant On Dublin’s Baggot Street Lower Sold To Irish Company

The property that housed Derry and Sallyanne Clarke’s l’Ecrivain Restaurant on Dublin’s Baggot Street Lower has been sold.

According to The Irish Times, the property has been sold to a well-established Irish company following a private treaty sale process.

North’s Property reportedly confirmed the sale of the property in a statement.

The asking price for the property was €2 million, and North’s Property said that the price for which it was sold was in the region of that figure.

The property consists of two adjoining buildings at number 109A Baggot Street Lower in Dublin, and extends to 613 square metres.

“Strong Interest”

The Irish Times quotes North’s Property as saying that there was “strong interest” in the property from restaurant operators and investors that were “looking to continue the tradition of dining in these buildings which have been lovingly developed over the years by the Clarkes”.

However, North’s Property added that it understands that the property will not be used as a restaurant by its new owner, which has is a “well-established Irish firm” that will use the property “as its city centre headquarters”.

Closure Announcements

Derry and Sallyanne Clarke announced in February of 2020 that they would close l’Ecrivain in July of 2020 after 31 years of running the restaurant. They subsequently announced in May of last year that they would delay the restaurant’s closure until December of 2020.

Boutique Hotel Plans

According to The Irish Times, the Clarkes are currently planning to open a boutique hotel named Eliza’s near the south side of Dublin’s Millennium Bridge.

Speaking to The Irish Times about when he hopes Eliza’s will open, Derry Clarke said, “Obviously with COVID, we don’t know what’s going to happen, but all going well and all guns blazing, we hope to be open by late summer.”

Eliza’s, in which the Clarkes have two partners, will include a full bar and restaurant.

Eliza’s is expected to serve simpler food than the French classical cuisine that was served at l’Ecrivain.

Original article on hospitalityireland.com by Dave Simpson.