Kinsale's best-known hotel, The Blue Haven, winner of the 1996 Ireland Hotel of the Year, is being offered for sale at auction on May 12th by Gunne. It is expected to make at least £2.5 million. The hotel, in Pearse Street, overlooks the town square and harbour and is one of Kinsale's best-known landmarks. The current owners, the Cronin family, have spent around £1 million on extending and improving the hotel prior to winning the hotel award in 1996. Gunne points out that it has been trading extremely well for many years and has one of the highest occupancy rates of any hotel in Ireland.

The 17-bedroom hotel has scope for development, particularly on the corner area on Pearse Street which is currently used as a patio garden. The bar and conservatory could be extended into the corner site and it could provide another two floors of bedrooms, subject to planning permission.