Private club not allowed to keep public away

AN "ELITE" club due to open on St Stephen's Green at the end of the month has been granted a public house licence - but with conditions attached.

The club - Residence, owned by restaurateurs Simon and Christian Stokes - will operate a VIP system for members.

However, under the terms of its licence granted yesterday by the Dublin Circuit Court, the club will not be allowed to refuse entry to the general public on grounds of non-membership.

Dorothy Collins, counsel for the Stokes brothers, told Judge Matthew Deery that it was their intention to operate a system that would allow members priority restaurant bookings, entrance to the downstairs bar area and the use of meeting rooms.

Ms Collins said Residence, which opens at the end of May, was seeking an order which would guarantee it a full public house licence if all development and planning permission and Garda and fire regulations were met. Judge Deery granted the order.

Annual membership of the new club, in a listed ivy-fronted building on St Stephen's Green, will cost €1,600 with a joining fee of €250. Members will use digital fingerprint ID to gain entry.

After the hearing, Simon Stokes said he was delighted with the ruling. He said they had always been aware that it was not possible to have a seven-day licence without allowing access to the public.