Dublin City Council has approved Fáilte Ireland’s planning application to establish a food hall in the vacant St Andrew’s Church on Suffolk Street.
The food hall aims to comply with the area’s zoning objectives and maintain the civic character of the region.
Fáilte Ireland will seek an experienced operator to manage the food hall rather than operating it directly.
Planning documents indicate the new food hall could generate between 30 to 40 full and part-time jobs.
The project is envisioned to enhance Dublin’s historic building inventory while offering a venue for local and Irish produce to thrive.
Fáilte Ireland shared: “The proposed change of use for the premises has the potential to create a major centrally-based asset for the city, with the potential to inject cultural and economic value, which would benefit local residents, employees and all visitors, both domestic and foreign. We need to create iconic food and drink experiences – the proposed change of use and redevelopment of St Andrew’s would be the embodiment of that vision. It is envisaged that the proposed food hall will showcase the best of local and Irish produce within a very high-quality setting, which will not only reinvigorate but repurpose part of our capital city’s historic building inventory. The concept of a food/dining hall, which is essentially a permanent indoor market with associated dining facilities, is well established in most European cities and they are very popular for tourists, city residents and local employees.”
