Following a third quarter trading update that saw like-for-like sales growth of 4% and total sales growth of 1.3% during the first quarter, Chairman of renowned British pub chain JD Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, believes Dublin is big enough to accommodate a number of new outlets over the next several years.
After outlining plans in January for investing €20 million in constructing two new venues in Dublin city, the company has reaffirmed that its focus in Ireland for the next 18 months will be on developing both of the proposed sites in the capital, as reported by the Irish Examiner.
The first of these developments is a €20 million hotel and 'super pub; project on Camden Street which was given the green light late last year, while the second is a proposed pub on Abbey Street which is still awaiting planning permission. All going well, both of these establishments could be open for business by January of 2019.
In the long term, JD Wetherspoon, who currently owns four pubs in suburban Dublin and one in Cork, hopes to open up to 50 further outlets in Ireland. However, despite previously announcing plans for a three-floor pub in Waterford city, the company has stated that the development of locations in the capital will take priority for the time being.
