Cork City's Shelbourne Bar refused permission by An Bord Pleanála to retain outdoor awning
The Shelbourne Bar on MacCurtain Street. Pic : Larry Cummins
The owner of a well-known Cork city pub has been unsuccessful in his appeal to An Bord Pleanála to retain a large awning outside his premises.
Cork City Council ruled in August last year that the large awning outside the Shelbourne Bar on MacCurtain Street adversely affected the character of the heritage buildings, the setting of a protected theatre building, and the special character of the historic street.
The bar, located in the MacCurtain St Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) and right next to The Everyman Theatre, a protected structure, comprises two two-bay three-storey 19th-century buildings — numbers 16 and 17 — both of which retain much of their historic character, and both of which are recorded on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
A large non-retractable awning, cantilevered from the first floor, was attached to the front of the bar in November 2023 to replace a smaller structure which was installed during the pandemic.
The bar's awning extends approximately 3.4 metres from the front wall over the adjoining footpath and towards the public road edge and measures 10.9 metres in length. In the Inspector's report, An Bord Pleanála said it was a "substantial structure" with an area of approximately 37 sq m.
Following the decision by Cork City Council, owner of the Shelbourne, Philip Gillivan confirmed that he would be appealing the refusal to An Bord Pleanála and would await the outcome of that decision.
However, An Bord Plenála has also refused permission to Mr Gillivan, ruling in favour of the Council, citing the awning's "excessive scale and extent," "inappropriate structural design" and "unsympathetic form and materials."
In its decision, the board said the site of the Shelbourne Bar is at a location which requires "that new developments are appropriate to the scale of the area and reinforce the area's character."
"It is considered that the awning to be retained, by reason of its excessive scale and extent, inappropriate structural design including cantilevered supports, and unsympathetic form and materials, constitutes a discordant, strident and obtrusive feature on the streetscape which materially and adversely effects the architectural symmetry, proportions, character and integrity of the subject property, the setting of adjoining period properties and which is seriously injurious to the special character of the MacCurtain Street ACA."
The board added that the site is a vibrant commercial streetscape, where established canopies are either traditional, retractable and modest, or architectural character features.
"Accordingly, it is considered that to permit retention of the awning would, therefore, be contrary to the qualitative placemaking standards of the Cork City Development Plan and the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.
Mr Gillivan told the Irish Examiner he was disappointed by the decision. "I am disappointed to learn that An Bord Pleanála has refused permission for retention of the awning. That said I will start the process of removing it and will engage with Cork City Council in the coming days."
