Wetherspoon To Open Hotel And Pub Venue In Dublin On August 16

British pub group JD Wetherspoon will open a hotel and pub venue called Keavan’s Port on Dublin’s Camden Street on August 16, following delays due the COVID-19 pandemic.

Development work on the Keavan’s Port venue began in 2018, and it was reported in December of 2020 that Wetherspoon had completed the Keavan’s Port development, that the venue would employ approximately 200 full- and part-time people and that the pub group was aiming to open it on January 15.

The opening of the venue was subsequently delayed due to COVID-19 pandemic-related business restrictions, and, as reported by The Irish Examiner, the 89-bedroom hotel and pub property is now due to open on August 16.

Keavan’s Port is reportedly the largest single-project investment in Wetherspoon’s 41-year history, costing approximately €33 million. The group purchased the site of the venue for €6 million and subsequently spent over €27 million on developing the new hotel and pub property.

The Keavan’s Port site includes eight Georgian houses, seven of which are protected structures, a chapel and a modern extension.

Expansion Plan For Ireland

The opening of Keavan’s Port will reportedly begin a planned €50 expansion in Ireland by Wetherspoon.

It was reported in early July that the group has purchased an office building on Dublin’s Aston Quay for €9 million and is planning to spend an additional €4 million on transforming it into a pub.

The report of Wetherspoon’s purchase of the Aston Quay property followed news that the group is hoping to open a new venue in Waterford on December 14, as well as earlier news that Wetherspoon is planning to open new venues in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford as part of a ramped-up Irish expansion plan, and news that Wetherspoon will invest £145 million in developing new pubs and upgrading existing pubs, creating 2,000 new jobs in the process.

The group is reportedly also developing a site on Dublin’s Hanover Quay.

Additionally, it was reported in September of 2020 that Wetherspoon is considering opening bars in Irish airports as part of its long-term expansion plans for Ireland.

Wetherspoon Founder And Chairman Statements

The Irish Examiner quotes Wetherspoon founder and chairman Tim Martin as saying, “We have enjoyed great success in the Republic of Ireland and are continually on the lookout for new sites.”

Martin has reportedly also previously said that there is scope for opening more Wetherspoon venues in Cork, where it currently owns The Linen Weaver pub on Cork city’s Paul Street.

Committed To Ireland Countrywide

The group is reportedly committed to Ireland countrywide and has ambitions to have a minimum of 30 venues operating in Ireland in the coming years.

Original article by Dave Simpson on hospitalityireland.com