Dean Hotel ordered to cease using third-floor outdoor balcony for dining

Galway City Council ruled that The Dean Hotel must cease using its third-floor outdoor balcony for dining to prevent noise disturbance in Bohermore. The hotel, opened in 2022 and was granted permission to retain Sophie’s rooftop bar and restaurant, originally planned as bedrooms.

Golden Birches Limited secured planning permission for additional floor area at the lower ground (101sqm) and third-floor levels. An Taisce Galway raised concerns about unauthorised changes, including the front façade, not addressed in the retention application.

The hotel at 80 Prospect Hill features 134 bedrooms, a ground-floor restaurant/bar, and a gym/fitness centre.

Enviroplan Consulting shared: “The new owners, who were not the developers of the original Hotel, wish to ensure that these ‘inherited’ planning issues are regularised without delay. The restaurant and rooftop bar (Sophie’s) offers a high-calibre dining environment with panoramic distant views over Galway City. This has been a highly successful addition to the city centre and serves as an integral ancillary element to The Dean Hotel offering at this location.”

An Taisce Galway shared: “The most obvious non-compliance with the planning permission granted is the front façade of the building which is completely different to the façade for which permission was granted. None of the subsequent planning applications attempted to address the retention of the existing façade nor does this application for Retention Permission. An Taisce consider that the developer demonstrated a gross disregard for proper planning and the Planning Acts and Regulations.”

Galway City Council shared: “The outdoor balcony on the third floor shall not be used as an outdoor seating area, as an outdoor seating area for outdoor dining, as a smoking area or used by patrons for any other purpose either during the day or night.”