At long last, the landmark Horse Show House pub in Ballsbridge is to be redeveloped. The Madigan Group has got planning permission to demolish the two-storey bar, which is known the length and breadth of the land because of its location close to the RDS and Lansdowne Road rugby grounds. Once the pub is demolished, the Madigans plan to replace it with a four-storey building with a bar and basement and on the ground floor, with offices on the other floors.

The same fate is almost certainly facing Smyth's of Haddington Road which last week sold at auction for £3.35 million. It was bought by Lucan publican Hugh Courtney, who is now expected to redevelop the pub skywards.