The owner of a pub restaurant overlooking Dublin's Ha'Penny Bridge, has been told by a judge he can extend his licensed premises back into Temple Bar.
Kilkenny native Tom Doone, owner of the Merchant's Arch Bar and Restaurant on Wellington Quay, said in the Circuit Civil Court on Thursday that he turns away dozens of tourists every day due to lack of space.
Circuit Court president Mr Justice Raymond Groarke granted him a declaratory order for a €1 million restaurant extension to the former 18th-century Tailor's Guild Hall. This ensures he will be granted a drinks licence for the development if completed in accordance with planning permissions.
Constance Cassidy SC, counsel for Merchant's Arch Restaurant Company Limited, said the current proposal was to extend the permitted licensed premises at ground and first floor levels to accommodate an extra 90 diners.
Ms Cassidy said Mr Doone had bought the then almost derelict premises from a bank in 2006 and spent €1.3 million on a major refurbishment of the building.
The judge heard that the building was a major heritage asset on the Dublin tourism trail and spanned the famous Merchant’s Arch which maintained an important pedestrian link between Dame Street via Temple Bar and Henry Street on the north side of the river Liffey via the Ha’Penny Bridge.