Capital Bars plans new hotel: ThePost.ie


TCH Archives > Sunday Business Post > 2004/02/01 > Capital Bars plans new hotel

Capital Bars plans new hotel
Sunday, February 01, 2004

By Neil Callanan

Capital Bars supremos Liam and Des O'Dwyer have been granted planning permission for a 55-bedroom hotel on a site that includes their Zanzibar superpub on Ormond Quay in Dublin city centre.

The pair spent a year planning the hotel before submitting a planning application to Dublin City Council in 2003.
The 4,296 square metre hotel will have a restaurant and a cafe/bar, and will have entrances from Lower Ormond Quay and Great Strand Quay. The development varies in height between two and five storeys.

Under the plan, Zanzibar is to be retained but the third floor offices will be converted into hotel bedrooms. Zanzibar was one of the first modern superpubs in Dublin and has a capacity of around 1,500.

Capital Bars already operates three hotels in Dublin: the Grafton Capital on Lower Stephen's Street, the Rathmines Capital on Lower Rathmines Road, and the Trinity Capital on Pearse Street. It also operates a number of superpubs including Sosume, Cafe en Seine, Bob's and Break for the Border, and is engaged in a major revamp of its O'Dwyer's premises on Lower Mount Street.

The company also owns the lease for the former Planet Hollywoodrestaurant onSt Stephen's Green. Capital Bars had planned to open an Italian-themed superpub at the building, but this was challenged by the neighbouring Fitzwilliam Hotel. It has since applied to Dublin City Council for permission to turn the licensed restaurant into retail/shop use.