Retail and residence plan for former factory

A premises that was once a mineral water factory and its upstairs level which was at one time the HQ of Kilcullen Boxing Club could become a retail store and two apartments, if a planning application recently lodged with Kildare County Council is successful, writes Brian Byrne.

The application by Knockout Taverns Ltd relates to the building adjoining the Hideout on the New Abbey Road and seeks permission for change of use of part of existing ground floor store to a 26sqm retail unit with ancillary store and staff area and construction of a new residential stairs to the first floor.

The proposal also seeks change of use from existing 160sqm attic store to two 2-bedroom apartments, and the associated alterations to elevations including new retail frontage and residential access onto footpath at ground floor level. A bin storage area and all associated site development and facilitating works are included in the application which has a file number 18394. Any submissions need to be made by 13 May 2018.

Dating back to the late 1940s, the building was originally a factory premises for Leinster Beverages, a mineral waters business established by the Byrne family and serving a large part of the east and south-east of the country. It was also a bottling store for the pub business that became world famous as The Hideout from the 1950s through to the 1990s. For many years the upper floor was used by Kilcullen Boxing Club for its training work, with a full-size boxing ring installed. It was also a coffin store for the family's funeral undertaking activities.

It is part of the Hideout property bought in 2016 by local businessman Jonathan Keogh, who has refurbished the pub and restaurant to a very high level of comfort and quality.