HappyChef Daily · Today's restaurant news
Dublin Says No To Takeaway And Malta's Caterers Push For Lower VAT
- Ireland
- Malta
In Short
- Dublin City Council approved a restaurant on O'Connell Street, but it may not sell hot food to take away.
- Afternoon visits to Irish food outlets grew fastest in the second quarter, while mornings fell 3.3%.
- Harcourt Developments expects more than €37 million in turnover this year, about 6% more than last year.
- Maltese caterers and the Nationalist Party again asked for VAT on catering to drop to 7%.
- Planners refused tables and chairs in front of the Ġieżu church in Rabat after more than 180 objections.
Planning rules lead the news in both countries today. Dublin wants fewer takeaways on its main street, and Rabat said no to a terrace in front of a church.
In Malta the budget talks go on. Caterers want lower VAT, and unions want higher wages and a shorter week.
A New O'Connell Street Restaurant, But No Takeaway Allowed
Dublin City Council gave permission to turn the former Ulster Bank building at 2-4 O'Connell Street Lower into a restaurant, shops and offices. The restaurant would take 734 square metres over three levels.
One condition stands out. The restaurant may not run as a takeaway, which the council defines as selling hot food to eat off the premises. It points to the special planning scheme for the street.
About a dozen fast-food outlets on the street already sell takeaway. Councillors have long worried about how many there are.
Sources: The Irish Times
Afternoons Grow, Mornings Slip For Irish Food Outlets
New Meaningful Vision data for the second quarter shows visits between 3pm and 6pm rose 2.8% on a year earlier. Dinner rose 1.4% and lunch 0.4%.
Mornings fell 3.3% and late evenings after 9pm fell 1.2%. Chicken outlets grew 9.3%, while coffee was the only quick-service type to lose visits.
Pubs and restaurants grew 1.4%. In the quarter, 17 chains opened 26 new outlets.
Sources: Hospitality Ireland
A Donegal Hotel Group Expects About 6% Growth
Harcourt Developments, which owns Lough Eske Castle in Donegal, expects combined turnover of more than €37 million in 2026. That is about 6% more than last year.
Spa and leisure income should rise by around 20%. The group's portfolio also includes the Titanic Hotel Belfast and Grand Central Hotel Bundoran.
Sources: Hospitality Ireland
A Dublin Hotel Turns Into An Art Gallery For A Month
Gormleys will show about 100 artworks across Anantara The Marker Dublin from 6 November to 6 December. There will be works by Warhol, Banksy and Hirst, and Irish artists too.
A preview evening on 5 November ends with dinner in the hotel's Forbes Street restaurant, cooked by executive chef Gareth Mullins.
Sources: Hotel & Restaurant Times
Maltese Caterers Ask Again For VAT At 7%
The Association of Catering Establishments met the Nationalist Party ahead of the budget. Both sides back cutting VAT on catering to 7%.
Party leader Alex Borg said a lower rate gives more stability than a one-off fund, and also named this summer's power cuts as a problem. The caterers said they still do not know when the fund promised before the election will reach them.
Sources: TVMnews
No Terrace In Front Of A Church In Rabat
The Planning Authority unanimously refused a platform with tables, chairs and umbrellas on Triq San Pawl, in front of the Ġieżu church in Rabat.
More than 180 objections came in, and Transport Malta raised safety worries. The mayor said the council is writing clearer rules on tables and chairs in public spaces.
Sources: Newsbook
Wage And Working Week Ideas For Malta's Budget
Unions, employers and other groups have sent their budget wishes. Momentum wants the minimum wage to rise to €360 a week over four years.
Several groups want a shorter working week with no cut in pay, with ideas from 36 down to 32 hours. These are only proposals, and the government has not agreed to any of them.
Sources: Newsbook
What Does This Mean For Your Restaurant?
If you plan a takeaway or a terrace, check the local rules before you sign a lease. Both cases today show that planners can say no, even in busy streets.
In Malta, wait for the budget before you set next year's prices. VAT and wages could both move.
Sources
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