Supermac’s loses appeal to keep ‘traditional’ Temple Bar front

Fast-food restaurant Supermac’s has failed in its bid to keep the structures and signs on its Temple Bar outlet because the “reproduction traditional-style shopfront is inappropriate”.

Dublin City Council earlier this year ordered the company to remove the unauthorised shopfronts of Supermac's and its sister outlet Papa John's at 26-27 Essex Street East on the grounds they were inappropriate on what is "an important thoroughfare through the conservation area of Temple Bar".

Supermac's appealed the decision to An Bord Pleanála, but the board has upheld the council's decision.

The fast-food chain took over the Essex Street premises formerly occupied by Hungry Harry’s fish and chip shop, which closed after it was twice refused permission to use the building as a takeaway.

Supermac’s changed the stone and steel modern shopfront on the 1990s building to a replica traditional front with ornamental columns and cornicing and its logo.

Change

It made the change without seeking planning permission from the council but last April applied for permission to retain the shopfronts and signs, which the council refused saying the use of a “reproduction traditional-style shopfront is inappropriate in this modern four-storey building” and the signage included corporate colours and a style of lettering “not of a sufficiently high quality for this location”.

In its decision the council said allowing the retention of the signs would be “seriously injurious to the character and amenities of this pedestrian street located in a conservation area and important tourist linkage route in the city centre”.

Supermac’s said its shopfront was made of wood with a “colourful presentation” that was much more in keeping with the street than the steel finish of the original building.

The signage was a small element of the development and was “restrained in its handling”, the company said.