Latest news with #WrightGroup
Irish Times
16-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Wright Group gets go-ahead to turn former Rustic Stone restaurant into gastropub
The Wright Group has secured planning permission to turn chef Dylan McGrath's former Rustic Stone restaurant in Dublin into a gastropub. The permission, granted by Dublin City Council to Mink Fusion Ltd, comes 10 months after celebrity chef, Dylan McGrath shut down Rustic Stone and Brasserie Sixty Six, both located on South Great Georges Street, on the same day on August 15th last. At the time an email to customers said: 'Both have been very successful restaurants in Dublin city for a long time, but the time has come where we have decided it's simply not sustainable any more.' Plans were lodged by Mink Fusion Ltd, a subsidiary of the Wright Group, in February for the change of use application and the council delayed the project in April when it asked what the firm's conservation proposals were for the property which is part of a Victorian commercial development dating from 1881. READ MORE However, in a response, Anthony Brabazon of ABA Architects said that while a 'conservation gain' was desirable in principle it may not be financially feasible and that this could be carried out at a later time. He noted that the proposed works involved no removal of original features. Mr Brabazon pointed out that Mink Fusion 'as tenants under a lease, are paying substantial rent and would like to get the business open'. Mr Brabazon said that Mink Fusion 'would therefore find the onus of a full restoration, which would involve significant procurement of replacement elements as well as the entire shop front screens on two streets, a big obstacle in their goal to bring the unit back to use'. In response to Mr Brabazon's comment, the council's conservation division said it had no objection to the scheme on condition w that a conservation expert was to be employed to design, manage, monitor and implement the works and to ensure adequate protection of the retained and historic fabric during the works. A planning report lodged with the application by Manahan Planners has stated said that a gastropub operation 'offers a more sustainable business model than the previous restaurant, given current market conditions'. The most recent accounts for the Wright Group – led by chief executive, Michael JF Wright – show that its pretax profits increased almost three fold to €10.67 million in the 12 months to the end of September 2023 as revenues surged by 38 per cent to €49 million. The group now employs over 700 people through a collection of over 24 restaurants, bars, food halls, cafes, event spaces and convenience retail.
Irish Independent
10-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Dublin City Council approves food hall use for vacant St Andrew's Church
City officials granted planning permission after concluding the food hall would comply with the zoning objective of the site and would not detract from the area's civic character. Fáilte Ireland will not be operating the food hall itself, but will instead press ahead with a plan to seek an experienced operator to lease the space out for that use. The statute of Molly Malone stands outside the well-known church in an area of Dublin city centre that has a high footfall of tourists. A recent inspection of the statue found that it was unstable with multiple broken fittings. Experts found that two pins holding the statue in place were destroyed. In a letter to Dublin City Council, Laura McCarthy from Fáilte Ireland had said: 'The proposed change of use for the premises has the potential to create a major centrally-based asset for the city, with the potential to inject cultural and economic value, which would benefit local residents, employees and all visitors, both domestic and foreign.' Ms McCarthy, manager of corporate services at Fáilte Ireland, pointed out that food tourism generates around €2bn for the Irish economy each year. 'In order to generate and sustain further economic opportunity and economic development, we need to create iconic food and drink experiences – the proposed change of use and redevelopment of St Andrew's would be the embodiment of that vision,' she said. 'It is envisaged that the proposed food hall will showcase the best of local and Irish produce within a very high-quality setting, which will not only reinvigorate but repurpose part of our capital city's historic building inventory.' Planning documents said the new food hall has the potential to generate 30 to 40 full and part-time jobs. The Swords-based Wright Group secured planning for a food hall at St Andrew's Church in 2019 through its Mink Fusion subsidiary but with the Covid-19 pandemic intervening, the firm did not proceed with the five-year planning permission. In a separate planning report lodged with the application by David Mulcahy Planning Consultants, it stated that the proposed new use 'will bring life back to this vacant building which is one of the most prominent buildings in the city'. ADVERTISEMENT Mr Mulcahy stated that 'the concept of a food/dining hall, which is essentially a permanent indoor market with associated dining facilities, is well established in most European cities and they are very popular for tourists, city residents and local employees'. He said that the emphasis will be on showcasing local produce, fresh where possible.
