The row between The Hoxton Hotel and Yamamori Izakaya has come to symbolise a deeper struggle over the future of Dublin’s nightlife and cultural identity.
Will Dublin prove to be a city for its citizens?
In recent weeks, the newly-opened Hoxton Hotel has sought a High Court injunction against its neighbour, beloved Japanese restaurant and late-night mainstay, Yamamori Izakaya, due to noise levels coming from the restaurant. The hotel claims that due to music emanating from the establishment, they have been forced to stop selling almost a quarter of their rooms.
Yamamori Izakaya has been located on George’s Street since 2011. A central part of the Yamamori chain, which has been operating for 30 years, it boasts three restaurants with two late-night spaces attached. Yamamori Tengu and Yamamori Izakaya are two spaces central to the struggling Dublin nightlife, both known for their wide range of events, support of local talent, and consistently high quality of operations. The Hoxton Hotel opened earlier this year, and their decision to pursue legal action over noise complaints on one of Dublin’s liveliest streets has triggered an upset. George’s Street, particularly where The Hoxton is situated, is known to be almost impossible to navigate on a weekend night due to the sheer number of people, busy bars spilling out onto the street, and taxis lining the road. The injunction has triggered both in-person protests outside The Hoxton and widespread outrage in online spaces.
Izakaya is one of the remaining 83 regularly functioning nightclubs in Ireland, and as a restaurant by day, bar and music venue by night, it is one of very few hybrid venues. The outrage over Izakaya is reminiscent of the closing of Ukiyo in 2024, a Japanese restaurant and late-night karaoke bar previously located on nearby Exchequer Street, which closed its doors after 20 years. Multi-use venues are lacking in Dublin, and as nightclubs continue to close and struggle, encouraging the combination of the city’s thriving bar and restaurant industry with late night events could change the trajectory of Dublin nightlife.
Yamamori Izakaya being under threat represents a much larger issue. The Hoxton and its parent company, Trinity Hospitality, have repeatedly stated they are not aiming to shut Izakaya down; but a hotel complaining about noise levels after knowingly opening next to a venue that has been centred around music for over a decade has struck a chord. Dublin is a vibrant city with a nightlife culture that is innovative and diverse, despite the innumerable hurdles put in place. The Yamamori restaurants and clubs have added innumerable value to the Dublin scene, and while the outcome of this case is yet to be determined, it will set a precedent. A precedent for how, or if, nightlife and restaurants are protected, and if Dublin can prove to its citizens that it values homegrown culture over commercialism.