Dublin’s Mercantile Hotel signage branded ‘totally inappropriate’ by council
Dublin’s Mercantile Hotel’s signage, branding and keg lift, installed without planning permission, have been labelled “totally inappropriate” by Dublin City Council (DCC).
Planners refused the hotel’s planning application seeking to retain the items, adding that they had caused “serious injury to the special architectural character of the Protected Structure, its setting and the historic streetscape”.
A report from a council conservation officer stated that the “legibility and special architectural character of the Protected Structure has been negatively impacted by a number of unauthorised developments including a proliferation of decorative and inauthentic moulded panels, signage, murals and keg store.”
These have “resulted in an overly cluttered appearance”, said the officer, which “seriously injured” the protected structure housing the hotel.
A large hand painted sign erected on the building’s gable end, carrying the Mercantile branding, was deemed “totally inappropriate” by the authority due to its scale and prominence.
“The signage measures 10.75 metres in height and 2.1 metres in width and the applicant has further amended the appearance of the west elevation through the introduction of panel fit-outs. The Planning Authority do not accept the applicants stance that the signage is modest.”
Planners said the signage had a “significant dominating impact on the character and setting of the protected structure”, which was “further exacerbated by the artwork present along the western wall of the building.”
The artwork installed by the hotel facing South Great George's Street
The hotel has also constructed a keg lift for transporting beer kegs on the edge of the public plaza bordering the premises, despite being refused permission for the installation in previous applications.
DCC’s transport division said it had “serious concerns” about the keg lift, as it was “changing the use of a portion of the parklet into a service area”.
The land the keg lift was built on is “part of the public realm, is under the control of Dublin City Council, and is managed [and] maintained as such”, said the council.
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"It is noted that during servicing and deliveries this area is frequently restricted to facilitate [hotel servicing activity], resulting in an encroachment into the public park footpath, reducing pedestrian amenity and creating a conflict between users.”
When the Irish Independent visited the plaza this morning, the hotel was being serviced via the keg lift, with beer kegs and bottles placed on the public realm space, and a large service truck parked on the bordering Dame Lane.
Hotel staff using the public realm space to access and operate the keg lift
A DCC spokesperson said the keg lift, artwork, and signage would now be “investigated and actioned by the Planning Enforcement Section.”
DCC’s planning refusal follows criticism from councillors that the hotel used the pocket park area, which is a public space, as an extension of its bar area last summer.
The space was redesigned and reopened last year after a years-long redevelopment of the well-known hotel.
As part of the latest application, council planners also refused permission for the installation of projecting signage along Dame Street, metal security gates along Dame Lane, and window pediments on the building’s facade.
A spokesperson for the Mercantile Hotel said it was “currently reviewing the planning permission decision issued by Dublin City Council and will decide how to proceed over the next few weeks in accordance with the normal process.”