The Spar in the old Burton’s Store on Dublin’s Dame Street, Dublin, has been granted a full drinks licence despite protests by Temple Bar Traders and a nearby grocery shop owner.
Senior counsel Constance Cassidy told the Circuit Civil Court that Charles McCarthy, trading as CC Retail Ltd, which owns Spar at 19-20 Dame Street, had wanted a full drinks licence to help boost turnover. There was a customer demand for an off-licence in the area. Ms Cassidy said Spar had applied last year for a licence and had been met by an objection from Martin Harte, managing director of Temple Bar Traders, and also from Enda Martin, owner of the Centra Store that was almost opposite the Spar shop. Centra held a full drinks licence.
Ms Cassidy said that after a hearing in the District Court in November 2011 Spar had been granted a wine licence only and was appealing the decision.
Circuit Court president Mr Justice Matthew Deery, granting the full drinks licence, said Dame Street was a busy area and the Spar store was in a different neighbourhood from Temple Bar.