Bewleys

I am very happy with the decision of An Bord Pleanala re 10-12 Westmoreland St

http://www.pleanala.ie/bewleysa.html

I think that this interior is best served in its present use and it was a well considered decision to protect it from potentially very drunk people, beer I can manage but 2 cosmopolitans later I’m anyones. I also have a vague recollection of a Welsh rugby supporter who after Wales defeated Ireland in Landsdown Road in early 1984 drank himself silly, then attempted to imitate Tarzan in the Shelboune Bar destroying a very impressive chandalier in the process.

Dermott Kelly’s (senior) inspectors is probably the best researched planning document I have ever read and for anyone with an interest in Heritage its contents should be closely examined.

The Board direction is extremely concise and to the point and its clarity is refreshing.

I am feeling extremely vindicated at this time, we got a result!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The proposal has from a well informed source been in operation in Paris and New York for 75 years where it is considered to be a very valuable tool in protecting important cultural establishments. It is worth noting that the Empire State Building was built on the site of the former Waldorf- Astoria hotel which was a terrible loss to the cultural fabric of New York. I can’t see the designation being used on a very large scale but certainly if it were in place important cultural institutions such as the ‘Olympia’ ‘Gaiety’ ‘Shelbourne’ ‘Wynnes’ ‘Gresham’ and a number of the better Victorian pubs would be secured in the design for which the buildings were designed for.

@crestfield wrote:

Does anyone know if the “SaveBewleys.com” website is still in use or being maintained.

The savebewleys campaign is suspended and will only re-form should any planning application be made on either of the two premises to the best of my knoweledge. The web site was designed and hosted by desire media who were very professional in delivering a top spec website on a very short timeframe. In addition to delivery the website desire media also removed a lot of generically generated and or targetted spam which was extremely offensive at times and was placed onto the online petition at very regular and frequent occaisions, no payment was ever sought for these additional services.

The website has not been updated since May of this year for unknown reasons but as a former committee member I wish to thank everyone who supported us. I further wish to say that neither Bewleys would have survived as a functioning cafe if the outgoing Lord Mayor of Dublin Ald Michael Connaghan had not put his political reputation on the line.

Once he did put his reputataion and his considerable energy into the campaign a broad coalition of experienced conservationists and enthusiastic interested parties met on average twice a week for a 7 month period, the technical assistance of An Taisce was crucial to the decision reached by An Bord Pleanala as was senior inspector Dermot Kelly’s flawless planners report.

The website will I expect be taken down once consent is received from the majority of the former committee; it is worth noting that this group may potentially re-activate should the need arise.

Besides the securing of both cafes the new protections afforded to the use relating to buildings with a particular social importance that derive much if not most of their quality from providing that use was the biggest victory.

Thanks to Cllr Oisin Quinn for drafting this motion and to the entire elected group of councillors for allowing it to be adopted without dissent or ammendment you have all served Dublin well.

But has Bewley’s “really” been saved. All that has been saved in reality is the use of premises. Bewley’s it ain’t.

Former Bewleys Cafe, Fleet Street Hotel, Bars & Offices, Fleet Street, Westmoreland Street and Prices Lane, Temple Bar
Dublin 2

By Tender ON FRIDAY 26TH MAY 2006 AT 12 NOON

Location
The property occupies a prime trading location with extensive frontages to Westmoreland Street, Fleet Street and Price’s Lane. Located in the heart of Dublin’s City Centre and at the “Gateway” to Temple Bar, this substantial property is within easy walking distance of O’Connell Street, Trinity College, Grafton Street, and the International Financial Services Centre.

Temple Bar, which is the “Left Bank” of Dublin, is now home to a population of over 2,500 residents, 500 businesses and over 50 cultural organisations. It boasts a huge variety and choice of restaurants, bars, cafés, hotels and shops and also includes galleries and cultural attractions. Temple Bar attracts more than 500,000 weekly visitors, most of whom use Fleet Street as their main route.

Description
The subject premises comprise a substantial block of property which includes period landmark buildings on Westmoreland Street, Fleet Street and Price’s Lane. The buildings occupy a total site of approximately 0.13 HA (0.32 acres). Over the years the various buildings have been integrated and now interconnect at various levels. The total gross internal floor area is approximately 5,530 sq. m (59,525 sq. ft).

There are four main elements to the property as follows:

Fleet Street Hotel, 19/20 Fleet Street

Accessed from Fleet Street, this comprises 71 en suite bedrooms of three star standard over first, second, third and fourth floors with the majority of rooms having air conditioning. At present the guests use part of the Fleet Room on the ground floor for breakfasts with a mezzanine level between ground and first floor used for staff facilities.

Former Bewley’s Café, 11/12 Westmoreland Street

This comprises an extensive ground floor and mezzanine with excellent frontage to Westmoreland Street of approximately 12m. The accommodation is arranged in a number of areas which include the front Café, the Fleet Room, the Middle Room, the Garden Room, kitchen and service areas. These extend to approximately 950 sq m (10,225 sq ft) on the ground floor, 74 sq m (796 sq ft) on the mezzanine, with customer toilets at basement level.

O’Sullivans Pub and The Bridge Bar, 10-12 Westmoreland Street

These are arranged on ground floor and basement and have two separate entrances from Westmoreland Street. The Bridge Bar is located at basement level whilst O’Sullivans is a ground floor pub accessed from Westmoreland Street. There is an internal staircase which connects both levels.

This accommodation is fully fitted out and operational and has its own customer toilets, kitchen, cellar, and storage areas.

O’Sullivans extends to approximately 80 sq m (860 sq ft) on ground floor whilst the Bridge Bar has approximately 950 sq m (10,225 sq ft) at basement level.

School and Offices, 10-12 Westmoreland Street

This accommodation is occupied by the Dublin School of English under various leases and is on first, second, third and fourth floors over the Café and O’Sullivans. It has a separate access from Westmoreland Street. The net floor area extends to approximately 596 sq m (6,415 sq ft).

Services
We understand all mains services are available to the property.

Title
The property is substantially freehold however number 10 Westmoreland Street is held under a 25 year lease from 1 December 1994, at a current rent of €170,000 per annum. This rent is subject to 5 year reviews with the next review in December 2009.

The upper floors of 10/12 Westmoreland Street are let to the Dublin School of English under various leases and are currently producing a rent of €46,000 per annum. A number of these leases have expired and it is expected the above rental income will increase once the terms of these new leases have been agreed.

Guide excess €25m

I read in the Sindo that John Ronan has lodged papers in the Commercial Court seeking the forfeiture of the Bewleys lease. Does anyone know the grounds he is claiming?

It’s a repeat of a story that was in The Sunday Business Post