Concerns that there may be an over-concentration of pubs in the Camden Street area of Dublin city have resulted in plans for a new €4 million JD Wetherspoons super-pub and hotel being put on hold.

This follows Dublin City Council requesting further information from the UK pub chain on its plans for the site on a former homeless hostel at Camden Hall, which is part of a wider company plan to open 30 pubs in Ireland over the next five years.

The application has attracted a number of objections from locals opposed to the plan, which also involves a 98-bedroom hotel which the company says will employ 100 people if it goes ahead.

In one objection, local resident Barry Chambers told the city council “enough is enough, the area is at tipping point and already fast becoming another Temple Bar - great for revellers and operators, but not so good for everyone else”.

‘14 pubs’

Mr Chambers said there are already 14 pubs on the Camden Street/Wexford Street area, with 13 cafes/restaurants also serving alcohol. He said that “clearly, Camden Street is more than adequately served for the purchase and consumption of alcohol”.

Dublin City Council has now told the applicant it has a “concern in relation to the over-concentration of bars and restaurants on Camden Street”.

The council also states that it has concerns in relation to the noise from the firm’s proposed restaurant and outdoor seating area.

Consultants for Wetherspoons have already pointed out to the council that the site is vacant and the plan “will deliver a commercial development that will create vibrancy at street level and restore vitality to the surrounding area”.

The closing time would be 12.30am on Fridays and Saturdays and “the proposed bar will not be a late night bar in the traditional sense”, the consultants added.