A Dublin hotel, which was forced to refuse alcoholic drinks to customers because it did not have a liquor licence, has been granted a pub licence by the Circuit Court.
The Clarion Hotel, at the Irish Financial Services Centre, was forced to open "dry" a fortnight ago and operate a "no beer or shorts policy" until yesterday, due to what was described in court by Constance Cassidy SC as a huge amount of bookings.
Ms Cassidy appeared in court for Choice Hotels, which operates the new 212-bed four-star hotel. She told Judge Donagh McDonagh that the hotel was the first commercial venture to open in the South Dock area which, she said, was destined to become the new Temple Bar of Dublin.
She said Choice Hotels managed Clarion, Comfort and Quality hotels, and their latest venture was situated at Sir John Rogerson's Quay, near the new pedestrian bridge across the Liffey.
Ms Cassidy said the hotel, which also has a leisure centre, was in an area where many apartment developments were taking place, as well as the development of a culture centre and exhibition space.
She told the court the hotel bought and extinguished a liquor licence attached to the former pub of Thomas Scriven, 39 Tower Street, Cork.
After the successful application, Ms Cassidy said that a sizeable number of Cork licences were being bought and extinguished to feed the need in the capital for new liquor licences.