Dublin Four Seasons hit by further delays

The delayed five-star Four Seasons hotel in Dublin is not expected to open until early next year - 12 months later than planned.

Last week the developers behind the still-to-be-completed 259-bedroom property - Simonscourt Holdings and Harvard Properties - went into receivership after running up huge building costs.

Four Seasons has a contract to operate the hotel when it opens. It was originally due to open in February.

A spokeswoman for Four Seasons expressed frustration at the delay. She said: "We have had full marketing and reservations going for the past month and we continue to take bookings. We hope to learn of an opening date in the coming weeks."

Guests have, in the meantime, been moved to other hotels.

The closest five-star hotel to the Ballsbridge site is the 145-bedroom Merrion on Upper Merrion Street.

Christmas parties have also been booked at the Four Seasons hotel. If the hotel is still not open by then, the guests will need to stay somewhere else or have their bookings cancelled.

A firm completion date awaits efforts by the receiver Pearse Farrell, of Farrell Grant Sparks. Four banks formed a consortium to lend the IR£51m (£39m) development cost to the developers. Projected completion costs were estimated at IR£70m (£54m) when the receiver was appointed.

Farrell said his focus was to restructure the operation to ensure the hotel's completion under the management of Four Seasons Hotels before the end of the year.

by Brendan Nolan