I've noticed a trend, or at least enough specifics to take note, of Dublin pubs converting their upper floors in to guest accommodation of late
Pubs with rooms - "Inns" in common parlance - are clearly not a new thing, obviously; but weren't actually that common in Dublin. This is despite a number of pubs having Inn in their name, or their trading company name
Some pubs have been doing this for as long as I can remember, for instance S0029 O'Donoghues on Merrion Row has been offering accommodation bookings via their website for over 20 years; and S0031 O'Neills for 25. Additionally, small hotels - purpose built, or converted from large houses, and done deliberately to get around restrictions on opening new bars - were a thing for many decades, something else I intend to write about.
What I'm seeing now that I believe is a new trend is existing pubs putting in bedrooms. These are frequently, but not exclusively, going in as conversions of the pubs rarely used function rooms or music bar/nightclub spaces. These are features that many pubs had, but few pubs now maintain. Some are converting store rooms, or even extending in to adjacent spaces.
For cases of converting function rooms or other space in to guest rooms, an early enough example is N0214 McGettigans Queen Street, where the "Private Party Lounge" that those of us who used to Luas commute past it over 15 years ago can remember advertised, has been converted to bedrooms
Window sign from McGettigans from 2009 Streetview pass
The former S0067 JJ Smyths, now the Thomas Moore on Aungier Street also added bedrooms before reopening with it's new name. The much missed S1434 57 The Headline is to shortly reopen as the Libertine Lounge and Lodgings. S1762 The Laurels in Perrystown and S0279 Fitzgeralds in Monkstown both also have planning permission for similar works at the moment, with Fitzgerald's commencement notice having gone in during March.
There are also cases of existing apartments above a pub being offered as guest accommodation as part of the pub offering. One early example - but which I believe is gone now - was "Panti's Pads" above N0191 Pantibar. Other pubs with apartments above that are now rented out for hotel style use include two of Galway Bay Breweries premises - S0080 Bar Rua and S0083 Beer Temple.
Finally, while we're well aware of pubs (and in particular, nightclubs) being knocked and a hotel replacement being built; there are also cases of where a pub has been retained while a full scale hotel is built around it.
There's two notable cases of very big hotels - 1015221 Aloft which has basically eaten The Tenters; and the Dublin One Hotel which has done a much better job of retaining N0018 The Big Tree.
But there are two proposals - one of which seems to be underway - on the Quays which will be more like an Inn, in so far as the bar will still be large and retained. The repeatedly rejected 1002171 Merchants Arch hotel proposal has been very controversial, but by comparison, the N1066 Bachelor Inn hotel plan has basically gone un-noticed; despite having apparently begun work. This will make the Inn element of the name a bit more apt!
N1833 The Harbourmaster in the IFSC also had a proposal for a large enough hotel replacing some of their existing space; but this was rejected.
Wetherspoons has also converted space in their substantial N2538 Old Borough in Swords in to small (14 bed) hotel.
