More than twenty years ago there was a Head Shop at 164 Capel Street but it was set on fire. To quote from court documents: “The facts of the case were that the appellant and another man deliberately set fire to a head shop premises called Nirvana situate at 164 Capel Street, Dublin 1, in the early hours of the 12th of February 2010. The shop specialised in the sale of psychotropic substances which, though now illegal, were legal at the time. in the sale of phototropic substances which were legal at the time. The fire also spread to the two premises on either side of Nirvana, namely to a premises called The Souvenir Seeds Store at 164A Capel Street, which also sold then legal psychotropic substances, and to Utopia at 163 Capel Street which was a sex shop.”
This photograph was taken towards the end of 2022 however nothing really happened until a week or two when a demolition crew arrived to demolish the Dublin Working Mens Club at 33-36 Little Strand Street. I must admit that I was totally unaware of the the building and am not sure if it is being cleared to allow the construction of the new hotel.
[UPDATE] I checked the planning permission documents and the footprint of the hotel includes 162-164 Capel Street and 33-36 Strand Street Little []
In September 2021 An Bord Pleanála disagreed with Dublin City Council’s contention that there were too many hotels in the city centre and awarded permission, following an appeal, to Ringline Investments for a nine-storey, 142-bedroom hotel for Capel Street, in Dublin. The appeals board decision overturned a ruling by the City Council to refuse planning to Ringline for the hotel after expressing concerns about the “existing over-concentration” of hotels in the area.
Some objections were due to the fact that about 2,150 hotel rooms have been permitted in recent years within 350 metres of the site on Capel Street.
Apartment hotel group City ID recently announced the acquisition of a site on Capel Street in Dublin. The latest addition to its brand is the next step in its wider growth strategy across Europe and beyond. Originally the site received full planning permission for 142 bedrooms with food and beverage and meeting facilities and once developed will extend to approximately 5,471 sq m / 58,890 sq ft over 9-storey over basement.
My understanding is that the complex now under construction will operate 104 apartments with a diverse room mix. All apartments will feature fully equipped kitchens and living spaces, suited for short and long stays. The ground floor public area will include an open lobby, a deli, and a bar.
The acquisition of Capel Street adds to its three locations in central Amsterdam and to its latest site in central London’s Victoria district. Together with pension provider APG and Aware Super, City ID is implementing its strategy of international growth. The goal is to invest more than € 1 billion over the next five years to grow its international platform of apartment hotels across major European cities.
On 20 May 2022, Capel street was made traffic-free, following a campaign by people who wanted to improve the quality of life on the street. It is now the longest traffic-free street in Dublin.
This is my local area and I have always liked Capel Street as it is a unique commercial street in the city centre. It is a great place to shop and it is full of excellent restaurants, I have tried most of them.
Capel Street is named after Arthur Capell, 1st Earl of Essex, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland 1672–1677. Historically, it was the site of the chapel of St Mary’s Abbey. The street was laid out by Sir Humphrey Jervis in the late 17th century on the Abbey lands he purchased in 1674. He also built Essex Bridge (today Grattan Bridge), and the street was known for its mansions and a royal mint. In the 18th century, it became a commercial hub, with two-bay buildings replacing most of the “Dutch Billy” houses. In the late 1700s, the Italian composer, Tommaso Giordani, performed at a small purpose built theatre on the street. The Capel Street Theatre also stood there in the 18th century.
The Torch Theatre operated on Capel Street from 1935–41. The street declined in the 20th century, before a revival around the 1980s. Today it is known for its variety of restaurants, shops, cafés and pubs; as Panti, the owner of Pantibar put it, “You can buy a lightbulb, sexual lubricant, Brazilian rice, get a pint and go to a trad session”. Louis Copeland’s tailor is another notable business.