The Savoy Hotel in Limerick is seeking council planning permission for a multi-million euro expansion that will add 28 new rooms, a licensed bar, a cafe, and meeting facilities while reshaping neighbouring Bedford Row. Kirkland Investments lodged the application for the city-centre hospitality development, which targets a decision date of November 18 from council.
Limerick Savoy Hotel Proposes Multi-Million Euro Expansion on Henry Street and Bedford Row
The proposed development plan involves merging multiple vacant ground-floor retail units to create a cohesive layout linked directly to the existing five-star hotel. According to planning documents submitted by agents for the developer, the project aims to transform empty commercial spaces into active hospitality zones. If approved, construction roles will precede long-term hospitality, events, and accommodation positions.
Commercial Restructuring and Property Conversions
The expansion project integrates several distinct properties along Henry Street and Bedford Row. Two out-of-use retail units neighbouring the hotel, which previously housed Techstar and Laura Ashley, will be merged to provide a licensed cafe and restaurant linked to the main hotel building. The application also seeks to have the former shops at numbers four to eight Bedford Row being converted from retail use to hotel use and merged.
Unit number seven—formerly a Dealz store that closed earlier this year—will be retrofitted for multi-media activities, a licensed bar area, and meeting rooms. The upper floors of these former retail shops, alongside the upper floors of the new Henry Street restaurant and meeting facilities, will be refitted to construct the 28 new hotel bedrooms. A new hotel canopy will extend from the Henry Street entrance toward the junction with Bedford Row, accompanied by updated exterior signage.
Integration with Moran Hospitality Portfolio
The expansion proposal follows the acquisition of The Savoy Hotel and the nearby George Hotel earlier this year by Dublin-based Moran Hospitality. Founded by the late Athea man Tom Moran, the hotel group is well-known for operating the Red Cow Moran Hotel in Dublin. Agents for the developer stated that the current works will enable The Savoy Hotel to operate as a more sustainable city-centre destination by activating dormant retail floor space.
The surrounding streetscape has seen successive retail closures along Bedford Row and Henry Street over the past year. Alongside the expanded winter garden adjoined to the hotel bar, the plans include the addition of dedicated bike parking facilities to support the increased visitor capacity.
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