Third setback for UK hospitality group as beer garden at its Camden Street hotel remains closed.

Dublin City Council has refused planning permission to UK pub giant, JD Wetherspoon, for a contentious plan to construct a 13ft high acoustic glass wall that would allow it to reopen a courtyard at its Keaven’s Port hotel on Dublin’s Camden Street.

Local residents had objected, claiming that the application would turn a super-pub into a mega-pub by reopening the courtyard.

JD Wetherspoon closed its beer garden at the venue in April 2022 in response to noise complaints from local residents over its operation. The beer garden has remained closed.

The plan for the 13ft high acoustic glass screen is the firm’s second bid to address those noise complaints. In 2023, JD Wetherspoon abandoned plans to erect a 43ft high sound barrier, dubbed “taller than the Berlin Wall” by one objector, after strong local opposition.

Source: Irish Times (Gordon Deegan)

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Dublin City Council Planning Reference: WEB2706/24

Proposed Development: PROTECTED STRUCTURE: JD Wetherspoon plc intend to apply for permission for development on lands at Keavan’s Port, 1-5 Camden Street Upper and 49-51 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2. No’s 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Camden Street Upper and No’s 50 and 51 Camden Street Lower are Protected Structures. The development consist of the following: The construction of a partially enclosed pavilion area (52m2) located 18.71m from the existing southern boundary wall to Courtyard 1 with an acoustic glass screen (c.4m in height, c.8.2m wide & c.52.5mm thick glass) fixed to the pavilion and wall at an angle with an acoustic quilt (100mm) installed under the roof steel beam frame of the pavilion. Construction of an acoustic glazed low-level structural wall and frame (c.3.58m in height & c. 8.5m wide) facing the south side boundary of the courtyard, to prevent patron access to southern end of the external courtyard. Construction of 2no. external canopies located either side of the pavilion, with an uncovered patron smoking area (105m2) to the northern end of Courtyard 1. A green roof system above the pavilion (48m2), including acoustic glass skylights.