A planning application for a hotel and "licensed restaurant" at Temple Bar's historic Merchant's Arch has been rejected by Dublin City Council.
The site of the proposed development is the China Blue shoe shop which is adjoined to the archway. It consists of a ground floor "licensed restaurant" - meaning alcohol could be served - below eight hotel rooms on two storeys.
Planning permission was previously approved for a three storey "boutique" restaurant and hotel on the other side of the laneway despite objections from local residents. Under the plans which sparked a major protest, four independent shops are set to be demolished at the Temple Bar end of the laneway that runs from the Ha'penny Bridge into the main square of Temple Bar.
