Restaurant

Bewley's Agrees To Pay Almost €750k In Arrears And Interest For Grafton Street Café

By Dave Simpson
Bewley's Agrees To Pay Almost €750k In Arrears And Interest For Grafton Street Café

Bewley's has agreed to pay rent arrears of €732,000 and interest of €17,422 to the landlord of its Grafton Street café, Ronan Group Real Estate (RGRE), by July 31.

Bewley's has also agreed to pay RGRE's legal costs, but a sum has yet to be agreed by the two parties.

The news follows the revelation earlier this week that, in a move that could save its café on Dublin's Grafton Street, Bewley's had offered to pay RGRE rent arrears, and interest and legal costs, for the venue.

Reopening Date

However, Bewley's has not yet presented RGRE with a reopening date for the café, which is one of the conditions RGRE wants met before it agrees to withdraw from legal proceedings related to the arrears.

According to The Irish Times, RGRE is seeking "unequivocal commitment in writing" that Bewley's will "recommence trade as soon as possible" by August 7, while Bewley's legal advisor said that it will "use its best endeavours to reopen the premises as soon as possible" and "will revert to confirm a date in due course".

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Bewley's told The Irish Times that it has "commenced initial planning for the reopening" of the café, and said, "Part of the reopening plan involves assessing the modifications required to our offering in light of current trading conditions. This, in turn, will determine required staffing levels. We will remain in close contact with our staff as this process evolves."

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