Whitbread PLC, the owner of Premier Inn, has begun construction of a flagship Irish hotel within Dublin's Clerys Quarter.

Leading construction and fit-out specialist Gilbert-Ash has been appointed principal contractor for the scheme, a significant element of the wider regeneration of the city’s storied department store.

The 229-bedroom hotel will be located on Earl Place, just off O’Connell Street, and will form part of the mixed-use Clerys Quarter destination set to revitalise Dublin’s landmark thoroughfare.

At the former warehouse site, Gilbert-Ash will deliver an eight-storey hotel with a basement and roof, as well as a ground-floor restaurant and reception.

Whitbread acquired the site in summer 2022 as part of its Irish expansion plans and secured full planning permission from Dublin City Council in June 2023.

Due for completion in summer 2026, the hotel will feature Premier Inn's latest-generation bedrooms and is designed to target a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ sustainability rating in line with Whitbread’s 'Force for Good' strategy.

Emma O'Shiel, Project and Programme Manager for Whitbread in Ireland, said: "This new Premier Inn in the Clerys Quarter is an exciting step in Premier Inn's growth story in Ireland. Dublin is a vibrant, high-demand market for both domestic and international travellers, and this hotel will offer guests an unbeatable city-centre location within one of Dublin's most iconic and interesting areas.

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"We are thrilled to be contributing to the regeneration of such a beloved landmark and to bring the Premier Inn experience to more guests in Ireland. This development aligns with our commitment to creating outstanding hotels that deliver great value and comfort for our guests and it is sure to be one of the most popular Premier Inns in Ireland when we open the doors in 2026."

Gilbert-Ash Project Director, Sean Doran said the new hotel will be a key addition to the Clerys Quarter development: "Gilbert-Ash has a long-standing and excellent working relationship with Whitbread and we look forward to continuing this with the Clerys development.

"For generations, the Clerys Department Store was an iconic Dublin landmark, and it is great to see the development work that has already gone on there. The Premier Inn hotel project forms part of the wider Clerys Quarter regeneration which will breathe new life into this historic location in the heart of the city.

"Gilbert-Ash has an exceptional record delivering stand out projects in the hotels and leisure sector and we look forward to delivering another superb addition to Dublin’s expanding hospitality industry."

The redevelopment of the former department store—long a focal point for Dubliners and visitors—has been welcomed. Clerys has been refurbished for a blend of business, retail and leisure uses, with the wider development due to be fully open this year.

Clerys Quarter will also feature the lively Earl Place Market, expected to be a magnet for food and drink enthusiasts and a hub for the city's independent bar and restaurant scene.

Whitbread has been scaling rapidly in Ireland since opening its first Dublin City Centre Premier Inn in October 2021. It now operates six hotel locations across Dublin and Cork and is targeting 5,000 Premier Inn rooms in eleven towns and cities across the country.

Gilbert-Ash said its approach to construction, fit-out and refurbishment is rooted in hard work, innovation and collaboration, with sustainability a core focus and multiple initiatives underway to reduce its carbon footprint.