Citywest Restaurant Owner Claims Protests and Hotel Modifications Are Harming Business

Business owner Camilla Grey is facing significant challenges that she attributes to changes in her environment and ongoing protests. Grey, the proprietor of Lemongrass Fusion restaurant located in the Golf Hotel on Citywest Campus in Saggart, west Dublin, recently received a closure notice due to planned protests near the campus. This incident follows an alleged assault that occurred on the campus, which Grey believes will exacerbate the existing difficulties her business has faced.

Background of Lemongrass Fusion

Grey opened her restaurant in September 2009, when the Citywest Campus primarily served as a hotel and conference center. Initially, the Golf Hotel, launched in 2002, accommodated tourists and business guests. However, significant changes began affecting her business when the campus transitioned to alternative uses, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of Campus Changes

• When Grey opened her restaurant, the main complex was dedicated to hotel accommodations.
• The COVID-19 pandemic led to the campus being utilized as a vaccination center.
• There were noticeable changes in the Golf Hotel, including the conversion of rooms into self-contained bedsits.
• Long-term residents began to occupy the hotel, diminishing the flow of potential customers for the restaurant.

Grey has reported a 65% decline in business due to these developments. She claims that the shift from short-term hotel guests to long-term residents constitutes a breach of her lease agreement and planning conditions. Consequently, she filed a complaint with South Dublin County Council, asserting that the hotel now operates in an unauthorized manner.

Recent Events and Protests

The situation escalated recently when Grey was notified about the impending protests at the campus entrance. The gardaí informed her that, as a precaution, access to the Golf Hotel would temporarily close. This decision creates further obstacles for a business already struggling to survive.

Relationship with Landlord

Grey’s relationship with her landlord has soured due to these ongoing issues, and she has sent over 30 letters to them with minimal response. As the owner of the campus, Tetrarch, led by developer Michael McElligott, declined to comment on these matters. Grey continues to seek justice and a resolution to her grievances.

Community Reaction and Next Steps

The local council has acknowledged the receipt of Grey’s planning complaint and is set to conduct an investigation. Despite the ongoing challenges, Grey remains committed to advocating for her business and addressing the detrimental changes that have impacted her operations.

The evolving scenario at Citywest Campus poses a significant threat to local businesses like Lemongrass Fusion. With protests and shifting hotel usage, the future remains uncertain for Grey and her restaurant.