Solicitor John Synnott has said that he will not move out of his practice to facilitate a proposed €10 million refurbishment of Dublin's Mercantile Hotel.
As reported by The Irish Independent, Synnott told Dublin City Council that he has "no intention of leaving [his] business premises", and stated, "It is my family's practice and has been in occupation by my father since 1955, myself since 1970, with the potential for one of my children to continue the practice at some point in the future."
"The Site Application Needs To Be Assessed"
Synnott added, "Given that I have no intention of surrendering my leasehold, which guarantees the right of occupation for 21 years, with an unexpired term of 14 years, the site application needs to be assessed in terms of my practice's continuing occupation of the building."
The Mercantile Group had intended on increasing the hotel's bedroom count from 28 to 109 following its purchase of Dame House for €7.5 million and submitted plans for the project in March.
Synnott said that the expansion "could theoretically be delivered whilst I retain occupation of my rooms, notwithstanding the impact on the servicing and movement through the building from a future operator's point of view…I am not intending to leave my premises at any point in the near future and if the proposed development is to take place, this will be in the context of my retaining in situ."
A decision on the situation is due to be delivered in May.
© 2019 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
