Dublin’s Mercantile Hotel signage removed following council’s finding that it was ‘totally inappropriate’
Dublin’s Mercantile Hotel has painted over the signage and branding previously labelled “totally inappropriate” by Dublin City Council (DCC), however the keg lift it built without permission continues to operate.
The premises found itself at the heart of a planning row earlier this year over large signage and branding it erected on the protected structure’s gable end.
The hotel had sought retention permission to keep the items, along with a keg lift it had installed next to the neighbouring public parklet.
DCC planners refused the application, saying the signage and keg lift had caused “serious injury to the special architectural character of the Protected Structure, its setting and the historic streetscape”.
A council conservation officer said the unauthorised developments had “resulted in an overly cluttered appearance”, 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.
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”.
Council planners said the hotel’s previous branding and artwork made the gable end look “overly cluttered”.
Pat Burke, chief executive of the Mercantile Group, which owns the hotel, told the Irish Independent the signage was removed “within days of the Dublin City Council opinion on planning.”
However, the council decision was made at the end of January and the signage remained until at least the middle of March.
The artwork and branding have since been removed, but the keg lift constructed by the hotel continues to operate, despite being refused permission for the installation in previous applications.
Hotel staff using the public realm space to access and operate the keg lift in February
DCC’s transport division previously 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.
“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.”
In response, Mr Burke said the keg lift “is located in a narrow strip of land which is actually owned by the hotel”.