Grafter banks on luxury lure to draw in workers to new Dublin offices

Flexible workspace provider opens for business at two locations in city’s Georgian core

With the world of work once again in a state of flux following the easing of Covid-19 restrictions, individuals and start-ups looking for a prime pitch from which to operate in Dublin city centre may be interested in the offices available from luxury flexible workspace provider, Grafter.

The Irish company, headed by chief executive Emma Kennedy, has formally announced the opening of its first two locations at the heart of the city's core central business district.

In the first instance, Grafter has the capacity to accommodate 100 of its members at Forty-One Leeson Street. Located next to St Stephen's Green, it comprises 5,000sq ft of office and ancillary space within a newly restored Georgian building. A development by Paddy McKillen jnr and Matt Ryan's Oakmount, the property has retained all of its original character, thanks to the use of a range of skilled craftsmen such as Sheridan Conservation, the Old Mould Company, Nolan Conservation and Bushy Park Ironworks.

While No 41 offers contemporary office space, this is complemented by the property’s original timber floors, dado rails, mouldings, cornicing and stairs as well as new marble fireplaces and modern glass and brass chandeliers. The building also features a communal kitchen and lounge area, along with shower facilities and a locker room. The lower ground floor provides access to the property’s Georgian city garden.

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Grafter’s second office location at Ten Ely Place meanwhile extends to 5,000sq ft, and opened its doors for business in December. The property, which in its previous incarnation served for many years as the home of designer John Rocha’s Dublin Design Studio, has been refurbished by Oakmount also, and offers a mix of office spaces distributed within its large period rooms.

Ms Kennedy said: “There is constantly a wide variety of end users entering the Dublin market, so competition for the best quality office spaces is intense. Great care and attention to detail has been taken at the design stage of both Forty-One Leeson Street and Ten Ely Place, to deliver what will be a new standard of Georgian office buildings.”

Press Up discounts

Outside of securing the use of Grafter’s office locations, all clients with a workspace membership will receive a card giving them a discount to all venues within Paddy McKillen jnr and Matt Ryan’s Press Up Hospitality Group.

Commenting on this additional benefit, Ms Kennedy said: “This is Grafter’s first lifestyle collaboration; however, Grafter does plan to expand that offering and is currently in talks with various other businesses so both our members and the local business community can benefit from such partnerships.”

In the case of Grafter’s initial agreement with Press Up, the company’s members will be entitled to preferential rates for meeting rooms, event spaces, team lunches and dinners at various restaurant locations, as well as company/team offsite meeting and activities.

Ronald Quinlan

Ronald Quinlan

Ronald Quinlan is Property Editor of The Irish Times