Three UK pub chains set sights on Ireland

The Irish press is reporting that three British pub chains are planning a move to Ireland and will be opening pubs across the country in the coming months.

The Irish Post has claimed that JD Wetherspoon, Greene King and “an unnamed third major British chain” are all looking for new premises in Ireland.

Wetherspoons are said to be initially planning to move into Dublin, before acquiring a further 30 pubs across the country.

The newspaper said that Wetherspoons is already set to buy the Tonic House pub in Blackrock, adding that founder and chairman Tim Martin said the company intends to open between three and four pubs over the course of this fiscal year.

Greene King has also agreed to buy two pubs in the Irish capital and reportedly intends match Wetherspoons by opening up to pubs in Ireland.

Donall O’Keeffe, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association, told the Irish Post: “The acquisitions by Wetherspoons, and the fact that a number of other UK chains are looking at the Irish market, is certainly a significant development.”

The newspaper added that the Drinks Industry Group of Ireland recently announced that almost one pub in the country closed every day.