This weekend, Dublin’s evening entertainment scene is due for an enhancement with the anticipated opening of a new late-night establishment. SoHo Dublin, a former Tramline nightclub facility on D’Olier Street, will be able to accommodate approximately 900 party-goers within its 1,115 square metre space. As the venue opens at 10pm from Thursday to Sundays, the club expects to engage more than 50 staff members.
Currently, employees are busy organising items which include bartending tools, boxes, equipment and a stockpile of drinks from 12 pallets. The arrangement of over €30,000 worth of glassware is also underway. Sound equipment has been shipped in from Finland and an Austrian-made wheelchair stairlift that took three days to be fully charged is now in-place. Additionally, there will be a giant screen with a price tag of €100,000 adjacent to the main stage.
The bar retains a trace of the past, with the word Tramline still visible on its concrete slab. Co-owner Jerry Harrington lamented that it was intended to be concealed the day before. However, the impending deadline is driving everyone to work at full throttle to have the venue set up in time.
The establishment houses three unique rooms for different musical genres and diverse atmosphere, including R&B, live music, and high-end beverages served in a seating area filled with 80s nostalgia. Harrington stated that their focus will be on value for money in a luxurious setting. As the proposal is to bring back numerous tribute bands, the venue will host a variety of international shows, spotlighting performers from Brazil, London, and Ibiza, and also Dave Treacy from RTÉ.
Harrington, who commutes from Ashbourne, Co Meath, shared how demanding the preparation has been, as the conversations were disrupted by a staff member stating that the team will have to work until 9pm for several nights to get the venue ready on time. He cited his long hours, leaving at 1:45 am the previous night and getting back on-site by 7:15 am. His schedule will remain as demanding until the club officially opens.
Harrington has been a familiar name in the nightclub business since the early 90s, operating popular venues like The Temple Theatre, Power’s Hotel, and Bennigans on the Green. He’s credited as the pioneer who introduced lasers in the Irish clubbing scene during the late 1980s. With his partner Paul Hayden, another veteran in the industry, who owns venues such as The System, Bondi, and Harry’s on the Green, they’ve co-owned SoHo. They have inked a long-term lease agreement, hence the sizable investment as Harrington puts it.
The campaign group, Give Us The Night, which is lobbying for a favourable transformation of Ireland’s nightlife, expressed their support for the news. They acknowledged the difficulties experienced by the night-time industry in Ireland for the past twenty years. Since 2000, 80% of clubs in Ireland have shut their doors, when there were originally 522 around the country, suggests research by Give Us The Night.
The industry practitioners’ collective pointed out that the nightclub sector now makes up a mere 0.6% of the total licenced drinks trade in Ireland, adding that, “Seven counties in Ireland now only have one nightclub left.”
How does Harrington plan to buck this trend? “Our venue is in Dublin 2,” he asserts. “We are easily accessible by tram, bus or taxi. The surrounding population density is staggering… Also, people are more cost conscious these days. They want to enjoy a night out without burdening themselves financially. We believe our offerings fit into this budget.”
Their opening night, slated for Friday, May 17th, will operate at half capacity and feature a Brazilian dance show and DJs. The following Saturday’s event will have 2FM’s Dave Treacy and other DJs. Harrington shares his vision, saying, “The night is set to be massive, loud and truly spectacular. We intend to focus on creating a comfortable setting and cherishing the experience, not merely filling the space in the first few weeks.”
Harrington states that contemporary party-goers have broadened their horizons in comparison to those of yesteryears, largely due to the accessibility of travelling. He credits Ryanair as a significant contributor to this shift, having enabled these individuals to explore and gain experiences in cities like Prague and Amsterdam, as well as throughout the UK. He adds that this has resulted in increased expectations; visitors demand quality bar and drink service, along with immaculate surroundings.
Harrington recognises that this upswing in standards is a product of the dynamic cultural exchange facilitated by air travel. He believes that a satisfactory experience can cast a positive light on the capital. Being on D’Olier Street is seen as a privilege, as it is considered the heart of the city. His sentiment can be summed up by his repetition of the word “blessed”.