Clontarf Baths demolishion/redevelopement

Seth Brundle · 17-06-2018 9:49pm

Alicano wrote: »

I certainly didn't think there would ever be baths. they don't want that. Just clean the water.. Put in some nice lights and a fountain. And let's all move on.

Why? So pretentious twats can park their SUVs like dicks and buy their expensive wine purely because the owner was sly with their planning application?

Shedite27 · 18-06-2018 8:16am

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Why? So pretentious twats can park their SUVs like dicks and buy their expensive wine purely because the owner was sly with their planning application?

It was an eyesore for years, new restaurant to the area, chance to get a coffee on the boardwalk. I'm happy to leave it be

downtheroad · 18-06-2018 9:26am

Shedite27 wrote: »

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Why? So pretentious twats can park their SUVs like dicks and buy their expensive wine purely because the owner was sly with their planning application?

It was an eyesore for years, new restaurant to the area, chance to get a coffee on the boardwalk. I'm happy to leave it be

But it sets a terrible precedent. Apply for planning permission on something you have no intention of building and get away with it because you sell a few coffees. What's to stop somebody from getting planning permission for a small extension to their house and then building something completely different, seeing as this guy (who owes €29m to NAMA, which is possibly why he charges €14 for a glass of wine but that's another debate) was able to apply for planning for a project and not see it through?

Effects · 18-06-2018 9:35am

downtheroad wrote: »

But it sets a terrible precedent.

Exactly. This developer has already taken advantage of the system and left regular tax payers having to foot the bill.
It's just another continuation of that mindset. Bend the rules to suit your own agenda and fill your bank account.

Seth Brundle · 18-06-2018 9:37am

Shedite27 wrote: »

It was an eyesore for years, new restaurant to the area, chance to get a coffee on the boardwalk. I'm happy to leave it be

It was allowed to fall into a derelict state by the current owner who bought it with the plan of creating a restaurant.

LionelNashe · 18-06-2018 11:39am

Planning laws have to be respected. Otherwise, the council should take away his bar licence and/or tear down the structure and hit him with the bill, or jail the developer. Anything else is two fingers to society. I won't shop at Dealz for the same reason - they have a track record of opening stores in units where it's not allowed and then applying for permission after the fact.

wakka12 · 18-06-2018 11:41am

Theres nothing wrong with that though, its applying for retention permission

L1011 · 18-06-2018 11:46am

wakka12 wrote: »

Theres nothing wrong with that though, its applying for retention permission

Having to apply for retention permission implies that you broke the law in the first place

If people feel strongly enough about this, object to the Licencing Court. DCC may do so themselves, they have done it before.

Shedite27 · 18-06-2018 2:21pm

downtheroad wrote: »

But it sets a terrible precedent. Apply for planning permission on something you have no intention of building and get away with it because you sell a few coffees. What's to stop somebody from getting planning permission for a small extension to their house and then building something completely different, seeing as this guy (who owes €29m to NAMA, which is possibly why he charges €14 for a glass of wine but that's another debate) was able to apply for planning for a project and not see it through?

If you're objecting to spite a developer grand, but a coffee shop is better than a derelict building. Absolutely pointless to close it down again

LionelNashe · 18-06-2018 3:06pm

downtheroad wrote: »

But it sets a terrible precedent. Apply for planning permission on something you have no intention of building and get away with it because you sell a few coffees. What's to stop somebody from getting planning permission for a small extension to their house and then building something completely different, seeing as this guy (who owes €29m to NAMA, which is possibly why he charges €14 for a glass of wine but that's another debate) was able to apply for planning for a project and not see it through?

Shedite27 wrote: »

If you're objecting to spite a developer grand, but a coffee shop is better than a derelict building. Absolutely pointless to close it down again

It's not pointless, though - the point is to avoid a precedent being set which others will follow, as downtheroad says in the post you're replying to. There's an important principle at stake that outweighs, in my opinion, the benefit of having a coffee-shop cafe, although this is subjective and I guess you disagree. Objecting to spite a developer, though, is bonkers and an abuse of the system.

Alicano · 20-06-2018 7:09am

Seth Brundle wrote: »

Why? So pretentious twats can park their SUVs like dicks and buy their expensive wine purely because the owner was sly with their planning application?

No. And not sure why you seem to have issue with the total strangers who may go there or what transport they use?
I have ran past this place daily for the last 15 years or so. It is a kip of a structure. I am not a swimmer. But if I was, I'd be at an indoor pool or at the beach. If planning is dodge and the owners are being crafty, then object and have the place knocked down rather than close and board it up (graffiti paradise).
I won't be visiting as a swimmer or a customer of bar/restaurant. I just like there to be something instead of nothing at that location.

checky88 · 29-06-2018 3:36pm

Seems to be an update on the LoveDublinBay facebookpage https://www.facebook.com/LoveDublinBay/ that Clontarf swimming club have been able to swim in it

L1011 · 29-06-2018 3:38pm

SBP at the weekend said that the council was investigating this as a potential breach of planning

odyssey06 · 29-06-2018 3:48pm

L1011 wrote: »

SBP at the weekend said that the council was investigating this as a potential breach of planning

Hmm, how coincidental then that a photo op swim event is organised shortly thereafter...

expectationlost · 02-07-2018 12:54am

mixed reviews https://www.tripadvisor.ie/Restaurant_Review-g186605-d13805864-Reviews-or60-The_Baths_at_Clontarf-Dublin_County_Dublin.html

expectationlost · 22-07-2018 12:06am

article in Daily Mail that said it was now open to clontarf swimming club swimmers, but when the journalist went to try and join the club she couldn't in contact with them.

Gloomtastic! · 22-07-2018 12:36am

Typical lazy journalist, took me all of 30 seconds....

Their Facebook page has a link to their website. It’s a waterpolo club

https://m.facebook.com/pg/Clontarf-Swimming-Club-211319172294377/about/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1
http://clontarfscwaterpolo.ie

expectationlost · 22-07-2018 2:34pm

Gloomtastic! wrote: »

Typical lazy journalist, took me all of 30 seconds....

Their Facebook page has a link to their website. It’s a waterpolo club

https://m.facebook.com/pg/Clontarf-Swimming-Club-211319172294377/about/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1
http://clontarfscwaterpolo.ie

paper was still in the shed it was july 15th Sunday Mail. Donna Conney and the journalist both said theye tried to make contact with the club and didn't get a repsonse for atleast week, article said there no email on the website?, they might have updated it since then although it doesn't seem so https://web.archive.org/web/20170630211228/http://clontarfscwaterpolo.ie/contact/

here there announcement of opening the pool to the club https://www.instagram.com/p/BknSEWiHNKM/ https://www.facebook.com/thebathsclontarf/posts/1907994065931621

she says used 3 different email addresses (1 of them probably wrong) to try and contact them and got no reply https://twitter.com/donna_cooney1/status/1021089257019117569 link to copy of council letter looking for the baths to show they are complying with permission with regard to pool use.

Gangu · 23-08-2018 5:22am

Any update on being able to use the baths

Sardine · 23-08-2018 4:43pm

The reviews are pretty mixed. Seems to be really expensive. I wonder who was stupid enough to invest so much money into what seems like an absolute basket case?

Gangu · 23-08-2018 5:39pm

Sardine wrote: »

The reviews are pretty mixed. Seems to be really expensive. I wonder who was stupid enough to invest so much money into what seems like an absolute basket case?

They started off with many locals against them because of failure to give access to the pool

whiskeyman · 23-08-2018 5:42pm

Haven't been yet, but anyone I've asked who's been says the food is mediocre and it's very pricey, especially the drinks.
Still seems to be pulling in the numbers though. Location and novelty will see them going for a while anyway.

CatInABox · 23-08-2018 5:54pm

Sardine wrote: »

The reviews are pretty mixed. Seems to be really expensive. I wonder who was stupid enough to invest so much money into what seems like an absolute basket case?

It's grand, to be honest, the prices are about what I'd expect for a place like that.

pixelburp · 23-08-2018 6:01pm

Been a couple of times: had coddle pizza the last visit and tbh was quite nice. Coffee et al was fine and the pricing middle of the road for the location. It's clontarf after all and a prime location. You'll pay more for worse, and less for better.

The decor is nice, nautical, but interior can be a bit noisy and like a barn. The big minus though has been staff: they're friendly, but almost comically disorganised; they desperately need a floor manager (or a better one).

Thus ends my impromptu TripAdvisor review lol

expectationlost · 27-08-2018 5:53pm

DCC give it the ok https://www.facebook.com/LoveDublinBay/photos/a.536943496463407/1120773871413697/?type=3

you see the baths are now being used via the clontarfswimmingclub https://twitter.com/clontarfswim

expectationlost · 01-10-2018 11:14am

Clontarf baths owners ordered to scale back restaurant https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/clontarf-baths-owners-ordered-to-scale-back-restaurant-1.3646623 not sure which part they are referring to

Shedite27 · 01-10-2018 2:28pm

expectationlost wrote: »

Clontarf baths owners ordered to scale back restaurant https://www.irishtimes.com/news/environment/clontarf-baths-owners-ordered-to-scale-back-restaurant-1.3646623 not sure which part they are referring to

Literally the very first line of the article, the Pergola dining area

expectationlost · 01-10-2018 2:29pm

Shedite27 wrote: »

Literally the very first line of the article, the Pergola dining area

I having trouble discerning the pergola dining areas from the rest of the building

pixelburp · 01-10-2018 7:15pm

expectationlost wrote: »

I having trouble discerning the pergola dining areas from the rest of the building

It's the "coffee" area with the retractable roof; not the main hall area when you come in, but the all-glass box room looking out over the pool.

Gangu · 01-10-2018 11:36pm

What happens next?

expectationlost · 02-10-2018 12:10am

Gangu wrote: »

What happens next?

they apply for retention?

jon1981 · 02-10-2018 3:47pm

Bit of a shame if they have to get rid of it, it's quite nice when the weather is pleasant. I imagine this would have an impact on their trade as acted as an overflow when the conservatory was busy.
However you could tell it was an afterthought as there is no ramp so very wheelchair/pram unfriendly

... also the staff often forget there are paying guests down there as the service can be slow to make it's way there... though that can also be said for the conservatory .

pixelburp · 02-10-2018 3:59pm

Was there again on Sunday and the staff are still pretty shambolic; very friendly, no question, but are a bit hopeless & disorganised, they don't seem to know what they should be doing. I think there was a floor manager, but she just seemed to be in charge. I'm not even going to pretend to know how to run a restaurant, but most places visited I might notice 'floating' waiting staff, who make sure everyone's taken care of. The Baths doesn't seem to do that - and as mentioned above if you're sitting in the pergola you're essentially forgotten about.

jon1981 · 02-10-2018 4:40pm

Yeah I think it's a combination of things 1) running a tight ship and not having enough floating staff 2) Staff not having designated areas and badly organised 3) staff not proactively making sure customers are ok... you have to flag them down.

A couple of examples from the few times I've been: I went into the Conservatory with my wife for a couple of coffees, 20 mins later no coffee. So of course I started looking for a staff member to enquire, after I eventually found one I was told a coffee machine was broken that morning and the coffee making was slow because of the reduced facility ... why the hell couldn't they have said this to me when I ordered rather than having a number of p*ssed of customers sitting there wondering if they've been forgotten about!

Another visit, I sit down at a coffee table which was dirty from the previous visitors with cups and plates still on the table, I ordered some coffees expecting the table to be cleared and cleaned in the meantime, coffees arrive... table not cleared. The waitress was about to walk off before I actually had to call her back to clear the table!

It's the little things, they cost nothing but they make such a positive impact on the customer experience!!!

To be honest, I won't be back until I hear the service has been improved. It's like the coffee area is an inconvenience to them.

Alot of negative reviews on Google and Tripadvisor and mostly negative about the same thing (slow service, lack of quality, poor staff management) , it won't survive if they don't up the standard, the repeat business just won't be there.

pixelburp · 02-10-2018 5:13pm

Yup, my wife had the same experience out there the couple of times she popped in mid-cycle. Sat for 20+ minutes waiting for someone, anyone, to come along and serve her.

Now to be fair, the place is less than a year old, right? So I can expect growing pains but the lack of coordination and basic nous in the staff would stop me from returning. We've only gone back as a treat 'cos we're fond of the coddle pizza. I've noticed there are a couple of older staff, but they seem to be run off their feet (presumably compensating for the (otherwise nice) teenagers hired on the cheap)

odyssey06 · 04-10-2018 5:26pm

There was a limited 'public event' last week but seems to have been a blink and you miss it...
https://www.q102.ie/news/clontarf-baths-open-to-the-public/

Gloomtastic! · 04-10-2018 5:31pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

There was a limited 'public event' last week but seems to have been a blink and you miss it...
https://www.q102.ie/news/clontarf-baths-open-to-the-public/

Seems pretty popular. The one advantage of swimming in the pool, as opposed to open swimming in the sea, is that it's floater-free! :rolleyes:

Gangu · 08-10-2018 7:06pm

odyssey06 wrote: »

There was a limited 'public event' last week but seems to have been a blink and you miss it...
https://www.q102.ie/news/clontarf-baths-open-to-the-public/

They are just trying to build a file for planning purposes. Nothing genuine about it.

expectationlost · 30-10-2018 3:02pm

The owner of Clontarf Baths is challenging a ruling by Dublin city council that found alterations to its dining area were developed without permission. https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/clontarf-baths-owner-challenges-ruling-pergola-must-go-7bkqrtckx

the possibility of them having broken plannings rules and the true intent of the business aside I don't know how this alteration harms anyone/pool users

expectationlost · 21-01-2019 1:39pm

clontarf baths wins retention https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/ireland/clontarf-baths-wins-appeal-over-restaurant-ffpr5755l

expectationlost · 11-04-2019 7:49pm

the Journal with Google funding has set up a site where you can fund specific stories to be investigated, one of which is related to the clontarf baths/restaurant
SINK OR SWIM: How could an historic sea baths get renovated yet remain closed to swimmers for six months each year? https://www.noteworthy.ie/proposal/clontarf-baths-planning-11-Apr2019

don't think they need to go into the history just the most recent planning application

whiskeyman · 11-04-2019 8:08pm

Is it under new management now?

I think many are just glad the site had been redeveloped as it was an eyesore.

Gloomtastic! · 12-04-2019 11:04am

whiskeyman wrote: »

Is it under new management now?

I think many are just glad the site had been redeveloped as it was an eyesore.

I think the manager has changed but ownership remains the same.

expectationlost · 11-05-2019 12:14am

expectationlost wrote: »

the Journal with Google funding has set up a site where you can fund specific stories to be investigated, one of which is related to the clontarf baths/restaurant
SINK OR SWIM: How could an historic sea baths get renovated yet remain closed to swimmers for six months each year? https://www.noteworthy.ie/proposal/clontarf-baths-planning-11-Apr2019

don't think they need to go into the history just the most recent planning application

heres that article
https://www.thejournal.ie/clontarf-baths-development-4625138-May2019/

pixelburp · 11-05-2019 7:31am

Popped in for a coffee break mid walk the other Sunday, and still a bit chaotic, while the size Vs price of the coffees were laughable. Titchy cups at premium pricing. Won't be back TBH which is a shame; not that our business will be missed, the place was heaving...

I presume the pool will never be open to the general public, that article sounds like insurance is the killer (excuse?), at this stage just a facade to the underwhelming restaurant.

Do the clubs even use it that much, relative to their other activities?

Hal3000 · 11-05-2019 7:47am

I don't blame them not opening the pool to the general public. Have you seen what's on Dollymount in the good weather ? This is the most unfortunate think about Ireland. We can't enjoy stuff like this and be responsible as a country. If the baths were open to the public it would be taken over by absolute toerags in minutes.

expectationlost · 11-05-2019 4:13pm

Hal3000 wrote: »

I don't blame them not opening the pool to the general public. Have you seen what's on Dollymount in the good weather ? This is the most unfortunate think about Ireland. We can't enjoy stuff like this and be responsible as a country. If the baths were open to the public it would be taken over by absolute toerags in minutes.

would toerags pay in?

PlayByTheRules · 09-07-2020 3:29pm

https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0709/1152317-dublin-swimming-pool/

Looks like the Council want to get the job done properly unlike this private operator who didn't deliver on what was planned

odyssey06 · 09-07-2020 3:55pm

PlayByTheRules wrote: »

https://www.rte.ie/news/dublin/2020/0709/1152317-dublin-swimming-pool/
Looks like the Council want to get the job done properly unlike this private operator who didn't deliver on what was planned

Yes when I saw that, the same thought struck me - that's what should have happened with the Clontarf Baths.

Clontarf Baths demolishion/redevelopement

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