The Bad Ass Cafe in Dublin – where Sinead O’Connor worked before achieving world wide fame in the 1980s – has lost a planning battle over illuminated Bad Ass fascia signage.
This follows An Bord Pleanála refusing planning retention to the owner for the Bad Ass cafe, Benqueues Ltd, for the illuminated Bad Ass fascia sign on the Crown Alley facade of the Temple Bar cafe.
The appeals board has also refused planning permission for the removal of a Bad Ass sign on the Temple Bar Square side and its replacement with a whole new fascia and associated signage.
The appeals board ruled that having regard to the size and scale of the lettering, together with the variation on font and non-alignment of lettering on the fascia board and character and colouring of the proposed “Bad Ass” lettering on the Temple Bar Square and the Crown Alley elevations.
The appeals board ruled that the lettering would be an over-dominant feature on the facade of the Crown Alley elevation and the Temple Bar Square elevation.
The board also found that the lettering would be unsympathetic to the character of the area and contrary to fascia guidelines in the Council’s “Shopfront Design Guide”.
The board found that the lettering would be detrimental to the character of the Conservation Area in the vicinity.
In the split decision, the appeals board did grant planning permission for the replacement of 2D sign lettering, Guinness and Temple Bar with new 3D lettering on the Temple Bar facade.
The appeals board ruled on the case after an appeal by Bad Ass Cafe owners, Benequeus Ltd against a City Council decision.
The appeal by Benqueues Ltd stated that the firm acquired the Bad Ass cafe in August 2022.
The appeal stated that the planning retention application for the two Bad Ass signs was made following the Council’s planning enforcement department issuing a warning letter over the signs.
The appeal stated that the receipt of this warning letter caused considerable concern to Benqueues and the firm acted promptly to regularise the situation.
On behalf of the company, John O’Keeffe of O’Keeffe Architects stated that: “We believe our proposals are of a high quality design which is both respectful of both the building design, compatible with our brand and in conformity with Dublin City Council policies”.
The most recent accounts for Benqueues show that it recorded post tax profits of €437,700 in the 12 months to the end of August 2023. A dividend of €1.25m was paid out during the 12 month period.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
