Living with Covid: Popular Kilkenny pub wants to build ‘dining space’ for bar customers
A well-known south Kilkenny pub is planning to overhaul its recently renovated premises to ensure its customers can dine in comfort under the new Covid-9 regulations.
Torca Developments has applied to the local authority for planning permission to carry out the works at Carroll’s Public House, which is a protected structure, in Thomastown.
The long established pub had been closed for several years until it was taken over by the owners of the popular Toast restaurant. The new venue, with its snug bar and comfortable restaurant area, had proven to be a hit with customers before the pandemic forced it to close its doors once again.
Now the owners are seeking permission to transform the existing external smoking area at the rear of the building to use as a seated dining space for its pub customers.
It has also sought permission to construct a new “link lobby” to the rear of building which will connect the existing bar to the “associated ancillary facilities” that are located in the adjacent building on Logan Street.
Torca Developments, a company based in Ballsbridge and headed by Pheilim and Oisin O’Connor, have previously developed land and housing in Kilkenny at the old James Stephen’s GAA training pitch, where they built 25 homes.
Seamus Vereker says:
Carrolls bar is planning to have seating in the now smoking area at the rear of the building transforming the area into outdoor dining area and beer garden. The area in question is directly beside and directly underneath current residential areas in a courtyard of 21 appartements. This planned operation will bring a level of disruption unmatched to previous experience of noise, pub traffic, and public order problems to the residents of men women and children in Carrolls Village.
How An Bord Pleanala are allowing this to go ahead is nothing short of a disgrace.