Sale of Peter Clohessy’s bar held up by planning issues

PLANNING issues are holding up the sale of a once popular bar and nightclub in Limerick.

The receiver appointed to Peter Clohessy’s Bar and the Sin Bin Nightclub at Howley’s Quay is in the process of solving a number of planning problems which have arisen.

Shane McCarthy has applied to city planners to retain an unauthorised development at the site.

Local authority planners are being asked to approve a change of use to part of the basement from nine car parking spots to storage and office space. It is needed before any sale of the premises can go through.

There was sadness when the Munster rugby legend’s ‘superpub’ closed back in October. The bar and nightclub entered receivership due to spiralling financial losses of more than €500,000.

Up to 60 full-time and part-time staff were affected by the closure after 13 years of trading by the river. It is understood that the business suffered unsustainable financial losses within the past year and owed a substantial sum to Revenue as well as considerable amount in commercial rates to the local authority when it closed.

The neighbouring bar, Small Claws, continued to operate as normal, while Mr Clohessy’s pub in Murroe, Crokers was unaffected.