Premier Inn has announced plans for a new-build property in Dublin’s city centre.
The hotel will be located on the site of Twilfit House on the corner of Jervis Street and Upper Abbey Street.
The three-storey building – which currently houses a gym and the National Leprechaun Museum – will be demolished to make way for the seven-storey new-build Premier Inn property upon expiration of existing tenancies.
The hotel will offer 180 rooms and an in-house Thyme restaurant. Premier Inn’s owners Whitbread said that the location within Dublin 1, and proximity to the Jervis Street stop of the Luas tram system would make the hotel “highly accessible location from across the city”.
The agreement is Whitbread’s first freehold acquisition in Dublin’s city centre, with the group aiming to grow to 2,000-2,500 rooms in the Irish capital.
Last year Premier Inn announced plans for a 97-room hotel on Dublin’s South Great Georges Street, scheduled to open in the summer of 2020. The group also operates a 213-room property at Dublin airport.
Commenting on the news Kevin Murray, Head of Acquisitions (North & Ireland) for Whitbread, said:
“Securing Twilfit House is an important landmark in Premier Inn’s expansion into Ireland and builds strong momentum to our acquisition drive in Dublin. Being close to many major tourist attractions and great transport links makes Twilfit House an excellent location for a Premier Inn hotel and we expect it to trade very well on opening.
“The deal marks Whitbread’s first freehold investment in Dublin city centre and we are actively pursuing other live freehold and leasehold opportunities, including potential office-to-hotel conversions and going concern purchases, as we seek to secure up to 2,500 Premier Inn bedrooms in the city.”
