Legendary Dublin restaurant announces shock closure until further notice

The very popular Dublin city spot opened its doors 24 years ago.

Located in Dublin city centre at St. Stephen's Green, the food spot opened its doors 24 years ago and has been called the capital's best-known steakhouse.

That said, in a circular sent to "all employees, vendors and friends", owner John Shanahan explained that while "anticipating a promised meeting" with Revenue to discuss the repayment of "Covid, VAT/PAYE demands", he was informed the restaurant's bank accounts were frozen.

While the owner said he did not believe this at first, upon checking, he claims that this turned out to be the case.

"This leaves us in an alarming, almost impossible situation. If I can't arrange an immediate, workable plan to get our our frozen bank accounts released, (believe me, I’m doing everything possible), I will have to make a quick trip to the US to get the money to get us back on track," the circular reads.

"It’s hard to believe that Shanahan’s on the Green restaurant, with over 24 years of making Dublin and Ireland proud, mostly because of our 41 talented, dedicated employees – and during those years paying over 26 million in taxes – we should find ourselves in this horrific situation.

"For over 24 years, we met our revenue and business obligations. Our present problems started with the unfortunate Covid malaise – and after that, the huge Eircom building, contiguous to Shanahan’s, was in the process of being demolished and rebuilt.

“This created a more than two-year unsightly, vibrating, filthy mess, having many regular patrons and tourists tell me they thought we were either out of business, or closed for the duration.

"No doubt this mess affected our plans to absorb inflation, and the VAT increase, by introducing Shanahan's: daily lunches, weddings, wine tastings, private corporate dinings, Sunday special lunch and dinner menu and music in the Oval Office Bar."

The owner also said that the account freeze will not allow the restaurant to move forward with its plans.

"So, until further notice, we will have to cease doing business as usual. I feel confident that I will resolve this matter quickly and have all taxes and vendor invoices satisfied quickly," he added.

“It may require that fast trip to the States to pull this all together; but fortunately, I’m still above the sod and am up for it! That’s a promise!"

Shanahan's on the Green is not taking bookings via telephone or online through OpenTable at present.

A statement on OpenTable reads: "The restaurant is temporarily offline."

The news of Shanahan's temporary closure comes as Dillinger’s, another very popular restaurant based in the Dublin suburb of Ranelagh, has announced it will be closing its doors permanently “after 15 amazing years”.

You can read more about the recent Dillinger's announcement right here.

Image via Shanahans/Instagram