Construction of flagship hotel gets underway at Dublin’s Clerys Quarter

 

Whitbread PLC, the owner of the Premier Inn chain, has started the construction of its most high-profile hotel development in Ireland at Dublin’s Clerys Quarter. Construction and fit-out company Gilbert-Ash has been appointed principal contractor for the development, which is an important part of the regeneration of one of Dublin’s most iconic department stores.

The 229-bedroom hotel will be in the heart of the city at Earl Place, just off O’Connell Street, and will form part of a mixed-use development at Clerys Quarter, a new city centre destination that will regenerate Dublin’s landmark street.
Gilbert-Ash’s scope of works at the former warehouse site includes the construction of an eight-storey hotel plus basement and roof, with restaurant and reception on ground floor.

Whitbread acquired the development site in summer 2022 as part of its strategy to expand Premier Inn in Ireland, securing full planning permission to build the hotel from Dublin City Council in June 2023. The hotel, which is set for completion in summer 2026, will offer Premier Inn’s latest generation style bedrooms and will be designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ target sustainability rating in line with Whitbread’s ‘Force for Good’ sustainability strategy.

Emma O’Shiel, Project and Programme Manager for Whitbread in Ireland, said: “This new Premier Inn in Clerys Quarter is an exciting step in Premier Inn’s growth story in Ireland. Dublin is a vibrant, high-demand market for both domestic and international travellers and this hotel will offer guests an unbeatable city-centre location within one of Dublin’s most iconic and interesting areas.

“We are thrilled to be contributing to the regeneration of such a beloved landmark and to bring the Premier Inn experience to more guests in Ireland. This development aligns with our commitment to creating outstanding hotels that deliver great value and comfort for our guests and it is sure to be one of the most popular Premier Inns in Ireland when we open the doors in 2026.”

Gilbert-Ash Project Director, Sean Doran said the new hotel will be a key addition to the Clerys Quarter development: “Gilbert-Ash has a long-standing and excellent working relationship with Whitbread and we look forward to continuing this with the Clerys development.

“For generations, the Clerys Department Store was an iconic Dublin landmark and it is great to see the development work that has already gone on there. The Premier Inn hotel project forms part of the wider Clerys Quarter regeneration, which will breathe new life into this historic location in the heart of the city.
“Gilbert-Ash has an exceptional record delivering stand out projects in the hotels and leisure sector and we look forward to delivering another superb addition to Dublin’s expanding hospitality industry.”

With the former department store a popular focal point for Dubliners and tourists alike, the regeneration of the area has been welcomed. The Clerys department store has been refurbished for a mix of business, retail and leisure uses, with the development set to be fully open this year. The wider Clerys Quarter development will also boast the bustling Earl Place Market, set to become a mecca for food and drink fans and a centre for Dublin’s thriving independent bar and restaurant scene.

Whitbread has been growing rapidly in Ireland following the opening of the first Premier Inn hotel in Dublin city centre in October 2021. The business currently offers its customers a choice of six hotel locations across the capital and Cork and is targeting 5,000 Premier Inn rooms in 11 towns and cities across Ireland.

Gilbert-Ash says it has a unique approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment based on the belief that great buildings come about through hard work, inspired innovation and genuine collaboration. Sustainability is a key focus for the company, with a number of initiatives underway to help the company to drive down its carbon footprint.

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Michael McDonnell Managing Editor of Irish Construction Industry Magazine & Plan Magazine

Email: michael@irishconstruction.com      WWW.MCDMEDIA.IE