Bewleys

How much of the interior is original on Grafton St – I rarely go in there so don’t know it well enough. Was it the refurbishment of the Westmoreland St branch that everyone gave out about in the mid-90s? I’ve never been in that one at all – did it have an original 1900s interior? I’ve always loved the brown bow window separating the entrances here, got a charming late Georgian and Edwardian character to it. There should be cakes on display rather than bags of coffee though 🙂

It is a sad day to see them close, whatever about standards etc.
Indeed if you stand back from it all, it seems extraordinary that such an institution is shutting down – you’d never have believed it possible 2 or 3 years ago before the tide began to turn.
To retain the name in some way for what ever replaces it would be nice.

Just on that application for Westmoreland, considering this property is PVCed up to the hilt, presumably the ‘period windows’ refers to the insertion of Victorian plates or Georgian sashes, rather than reassembling the WSC features.
There was a more detailed app in the adjoining building as I passed this evening, someone was standing in front of it though, couldn’t very well ask them to move!

Yet more mention of Harvey Nichols! Im beginning to wonder about the people who post on this site – every large-ish building available (such as the former Bank of Ireland on College Green) is suggested as a Harvey Nichols. Is this a shopping discussion board? Does an English Department Store have all the answers to unused Dublin buildings?

On the point itself – it will be a great shame if the cafes close. Quality may not be up to scratch but could be improved and if we keep on losing such city institutions, the city will be a pretty bland shadow of itself………………

Originally posted by Jack White
Zap you are absolutely right it is sad that yet another Dublin institution is gone. Findlater House is a complete insult to the great tradition that family name once represented, Harvy nicks can retain status in London or even Dundrum, Grafton St will be at a serious loss minus Bewleys Oriental Cafe full stop

Aren’t we all getting a little misty eyed? Grafton st is now officially the 5th most expensive street in the world. People’s tastes for coffee and food have rocketed in the last 5-10 years. Bewley’s is an idea, a throw back to the safe old days of breakfast with granny in Bewleys. It has been left behind and seems powerless to sort out it’s act.

The fact is that it is literally a facade. A nice building with a crap coffee shop behind the myth. By all means keep the buildings, list them even, but I for one won’t miss the coffee.

The foodies’ view

http://www.forkncork.com/content/showthread.php?s=&postid=1573#post1573

“canteen style food”: RoryW, that’s an inspired description of the fare on offer in Bewley’s. And it didn’t come cheap.
I’d love to see a bookshop there, but given that the rent is likely to be the most expensive on Grafton Street (newly negotitated rents will always cost more) I can’t see even a highly-successful bookshop turning a profit there. Isn’t the Dublin bookshop across the street gone, or doth mine eyes deceive me?

Out of interest, anyone know who owns the building?

prediction: Bewleys Grafton st. coffee shop to reopen on Ground only. Retail to all floors above.

What’s the holy grail about Harvey Nicks, especially as it would be such a small branch, it would be just like BTs anyway. Dublin is mad to let Bewley’s go, even if management was crap etc, with the correct management the place should be able to knock starbucks into a cocked hat. This should be a Heritage project, like the Crown in Belfast, listed as a cafe. Of maybe a Conran restaurant (I wonder if he’s looked it over. ) A shop has a completely different relationship with its users thatn a cafe or restaurant. Dublin has become just another High Street UK. Shame

I agree actually with you there. it is an institution and so much could be done with it. new, classy managment should be bought in, and stop seving the awful coffee. but i supppose its far to late now.

What’s the holy grail about Harvey Nicks, especially as it would be such a small branch, it would be just like BTs anyway. Dublin is mad to let Bewley’s go, even if management was crap etc, with the correct management the place should be able to knock starbucks into a cocked hat. This should be a Heritage project, like the Crown in Belfast, listed as a cafe. Of maybe a Conran restaurant (I wonder if he’s looked it over. ) A shop has a completely different relationship with its users thatn a cafe or restaurant. Dublin has become just another High Street UK. Shame

totally agree.
Dublin in my opinion needs to try and stop being another ‘UK’city, which it effectively has become, and evolve an actual world capital, with its own originalities. I draw back what i said about Harvey Nicks.

Chancers…… fecking chancers…..

@ro_G wrote:

cant believe they would get away with taking the Harry Clarke window

According to the Sunday Times, Johnny says the windows will go “over his dead body” He bought the windows when he bought the building. When you buy a house people can take the carpets and curtains. Can you imagine if they took the windows with them too????