Plan to convert Bewley's to superpub denied

The Campbell Bewley Group has rejected claims that it plans to convert its Westmoreland Street premises into a "superpub".

Cól Campbell, managing director of Bewley's Oriental Cafes, whose landmark Dublin outlets closed last November in controversial circumstances, said its planned redevelopment of the cafes would preserve "their social context in a commercial way".

Rejecting claims that the company hoped to amalgamate the 100-year-old Westmoreland Street cafe into an existing basement bar, the Bridge, Mr Campbell said: "Foot per foot, retail gets you more money than pubs; end of story. You would not put a superpub here. It does not make commercial sense."

Planning permission for a new cafe, restaurant and cocktail bar at Westmoreland Street is being appealed to An Board Pleanála by An Taisce and the Save Bewley's Campaign, headed by Dublin Lord Mayor Michael Conaghan.

An Taisce claims the development will "undermine Bewley's special importance to the civil life of the city and its historical, cultural and social character".

It adds that by "extending alcoholic consumption use into the ground floor of the premises", the development would dilute the mixed use of Temple Bar - an area already awash with pubs.

Mr Campbell admitted that the development "does not deliver a greater mix or diversity" in Temple Bar. However, "it does not alter the status quo. We already have a hotel and a pub, and we are not intending to change from that".

Under the development, he said, "the hotel gets bigger and the pub will stay as it is. The cocktail bar will be there to service the hotel."

Moreover, he said, the redeveloped premises would feature a new restaurant, seating 80, and a separate cafe/foyer area to the hotel where passers-by could enjoy a coffee and a pastry, as of old.

The hotel will increase under the plan from 70 to 102 rooms.

The cafe, located in the Fleet Room with an entrance on to Fleet Street, would seat up to 40 people, according to architect Andrew Lohan.

He said existing fireplaces would be retained but the seating would be more spaced out, incorporating sofas and low tables.

"It won't necessarily be old or exact replica furniture, but it will be something that keeps with the feature of the room," Mr Lohan added.

The hotel reception will be located in the corner of the Fleet Room, backing on to the Middle Room - what used to be the cafe's smoking room - where the cocktail bar is planned.

A new entrance to the premises will be created at Price's Lane, leading into the Garden Room, where the restaurant will be.

Mr Lohan said the restaurant would be redecorated in keeping with the character of the old cafe. The marble-top tables will be retained and the stained-glass window, by Pauline Bewick, will be hung from the ceiling and back-lit, as stipulated in one of 14 conditions of the planning permission.

Mr Campbell said it was "very unlikely" that Bewley's would run the proposed new restaurant.

"Discussions are ongoing with people operating successful businesses in older buildings."

There will be no entrance to the cafe, restaurant or hotel from Westmoreland Street because the ground-floor unit on that side of the premises will be leased to a retailer.

In granting permission, Dublin City Council turned down a request from Bewley's for a ramp, tables and chairs on the pavement of Fleet Street, saying such works would encroach on to land outside the application site.

Mr Campbell said the company would reapply for street furniture at the location, as well as urging the council to pedestrianise Price's Lane to "deliver more life" into the area.

He said Bewley's had invested heavily not only on renovating the premises but on lighting and signage. "To see what has been allowed since is really disheartening," he said. "It's like a hawker's bazaar on Westmoreland Street now."

Bewley's is separately planning to reopen its Grafton Street outlet as a cafe bar under the management of restaurateurs Jay Bourke and Eoin Foyle.