Restaurant across from Dublin pub Grogan's gains approval to become gastropub

The former Gourmet Burger Kitchen on South William Street has gained approval for a change of use from a restaurant to a gastropub

Add to preferred sources News Stephen Holland Local Democracy Reporter 17:52, 01 Sep 2026 View Image The premises on South William Street (Image: Dublin City Council)

A new ‘gastropub’ is coming to Dublin’s South William Street.

Dublin City Council has approved planning permission for a change of use at the former Gourmet Burger Kitchen building. Located directly across from the popular Grogan's pub, this city centre spot is home to one of Dublin’s busiest nightlife areas .

This planning request comes from Kivaway Ltd, the company behind Odeon Bar on Harcourt Street and the former Gourmet Burger Kitchen. They plan to refurbish the internal building in a manner consistent with its protected status as the premises is within an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).

A proposal to remove the original floor structure between ground floor and first floor to create “a double-height space” was rejected. The council stated this would be “seriously injurious” to the historic fabric and architectural character of the original space.

The building will also be repaired and restored externally, with new signage to be implemented. The council states that the lettering and any potential lighting of the signage will need to gain approval and will be subjected to both architectural conservation conditions and the Dublin City Council Shopfront Design Guidelines.

The original planning application outlined Kivaway Ltd ambitions for the new business: "The freehold owner has now decided to reclaim the premises and operate a new business within the premises which can be economically sustainable. Experience elsewhere within the city centre has shown that the business model of a gastropub is proving resilient elsewhere and so we have been instructed to apply for such use in this building."

The application noted the change of Captain Americas on Grafton Street to a new gastropub called the Grafton Tavern as an example of this. Due to the size of the premises, it is intended to cook food in the nearby Odeon, which is also owned by the applicant. This would allow for the use of more of the building for customers.

The application continued: "Having regard to the difficulties with making food profitable, there is a movement toward the concept of a Central Kitchen. This involves food being cooked in a central kitchen and then each morning driven to a number of restaurants where it is served over the course of the day.

"In this case the food will be cooked in the applicant's kitchen in 8 South William Street and walked up to this premises. This minimises the need to provide extensive kitchen areas within the envelope of the building."

This content is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

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