Belfast contractor Gilbert-Ash has been chosen as principal contractor for the development of a flagship 229-bedroom Premier Inn hotel which is an important part of the regeneration of one of Dublin’s most iconic department stores.
It will be in the heart of the city at Earl Place and will form part of a mixed-use development of Clerys Quarter, a new city centre destination that will regenerate Dublin’s landmark street.
The hotel is set for completion in summer 2026, and Gilbert-Ash’s scope of works at the former warehouse site include the construction of an eight-storey hotel plus basement and roof, with restaurant and reception on the ground floor.
Whitbread acquired the development site in summer 2022 as part of its strategy to expand Premier Inn in Ireland, securing full planning permission to build the hotel from Dublin City Council in June 2023.
The hotel, which is set for completion in summer 2026, will offer Premier Inn’s latest generation style bedrooms, and will be designed to achieve a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ target sustainability rating in line with Whitbread’s ‘Force for Good’ sustainability strategy.
Gilbert-Ash project director Sean Doran said the new hotel will be a key addition to the Clerys Quarter development.
He added: “Gilbert-Ash has a long-standing and excellent working relationship with Whitbread and we look forward to continuing this with the Clerys development.
“For generations, the Clerys Department Store was an iconic Dublin landmark, and it is great to see the development work that has already gone on there.
“The Premier Inn hotel project forms part of the wider Clerys Quarter regeneration which will breathe new life into this historic location in the heart of the city.
“Gilbert-Ash has an exceptional record delivering stand out projects in the hotels and leisure sector and we look forward to delivering another superb addition to Dublin’s expanding hospitality industry.”
Gilbert-Ash - which has nearly 200 staff at offices in Belfast and London - had record-breaking revenues of £267 million in 2023.
Emma O’Shiel, project and programme manager for Whitbread in Ireland, said: “This new hotel in the Clerys Quarter is an exciting step in Premier Inn’s growth story in Ireland.
“Dublin is a vibrant, high-demand market for both domestic and international travellers, and this hotel will offer guests an unbeatable city-centre location within one of Dublin’s most iconic and interesting areas.
“We are thrilled to be contributing to the regeneration of such a beloved landmark and to bring the Premier Inn experience to more guests in Ireland.
“This development aligns with our commitment to creating outstanding hotels that deliver great value and comfort for our guests and it is sure to be one of the most popular Premier Inns in Ireland when we open our doors in 2026.”
