Burlington may be set for reprieve

The four-star Burlington Hotel in Dublin, which is due to close at the turn of the year, could be set for a reprieve. It is understood that property developer Bernard McNamara is reviewing his plans to shut the hotel and leave the site unused while he seeks permission for a large-scale commercial and residential development.

The Burlington, which sits on a 3.8 acre site, will close as planned after the Christmas and new year celebrations have concluded. It currently employs about 480 staff.

Mr McNamara, however, is considering refurbishing the property and reopening it in the spring of 2008.

Mr McNamara acquired the Burlington from the Jurys Doyle group in March for €288 million. He also spent about €100 million buying adjoining land that was formerly the headquarters of Allianz.

He is set to enter discussions with Dublin City Council about plans to develop the sites, which have frontage on to Upper Leeson Street, Sussex Street and Burlington Road.

Any development, however, could take a couple of years to advance.

The Burlington is one of Ireland's biggest hotels, with 500 bedrooms. It also has a large conferencing facilities, bars, restaurants and extensive car parking. It was one of the most profitable hotels in the Jurys Doyle chain.

A source close to Mr McNamara said a large number of booking requests had been received from groups keen to hold conferences and meetings there next year.

The availability of large banqueting and conferencing facilities in Dublin city is set to reduce significantly from August when both the Berkeley Court and Jurys hotels in Ballsbridge close.

"A number of requests have been received and we're now considering our options," the source said. "No decision has yet been made." A decision is likely before the end of the summer, the source said.

It is not clear who Mr McNamara would get to run the hotel if he does decide to re-open the property.

Mr McNamara has other hotel holdings. He was a lead investor behind the recently opened Shelbourne Hotel and is a significant stakeholder in the Conrad Hotel on Earlsfort Terrace.

He was also involved in the purchase of Parknasilla in Co Kerry and of the Montrose Hotel in south Dublin.