Hines and Peterson Group, the developers of Central Plaza have announced they have selected an operator for the newly created rooftop destination at Central Plaza.

The iconic One Central Plaza is the main building within the city centre development with the top two floors now set to become the most exciting new hospitality venue in Ireland.

The new space will provide patrons with unrivalled 360 views of Dublin overlooking Trinity College, Dublin Castle, O’Connell Street and further beyond from the Wicklow Mountains to Howth Head to the Phoenix Park. An external 360 walkway around the perimeter at level 9 will provide customers with an open-air  experience of the sounds and sights of the city below. The entrance to the hospitality space will be via two express high-speed lifts direct from the remodelled sunken plaza.

The top floor Level 10, extending to 829 sq. m, is the main hospitality and dining area with the level below, extending to 768 sq. m, accommodating the reception area, bar and back of house.

Mervyn Ellis of BNP Paribas Real Estate, the scheme’s retail and F&B leasing agent, has confirmed that a lease has been signed at a rent in excess of €1 million per annum. Darragh Cronin of Savills advised the tenant.

The operator of the venue will be Mr. Zafar Shah who has extensive international business interests and has built an impressive career in the international hospitality sector. Mr Shah’s vision is to create three different venues under one roof. This will also ensure that the venue is active from early morning to late evening attracting tourists, local shoppers, office workers and large corporates looking to utilise the venue for events.

Making the announcement, Brian Moran Senior Managing Director with Hines said: “We are really thrilled with the momentum now building around Dublin city centre’s newest commercial quarter, Central Plaza. Our unique rooftop experience will offer the best panoramic views of the city and from its most central locations. Confirmation today that we are partnering with world class operator, Zafar Shah, who has a proven international track record in delivering fine dining and exciting food, beverage and entertainment experiences, represents yet another significant step in generating one of the most attractive and dynamic districts for the city.”

Welcoming the announcement Zafar Shah said: “This amazing location and the innovative design of Rooftop Central Plaza was a major attraction for me, offering multiple possibilities. My vision is for a truly iconic venue with the full panoramic expanse of this historic city on show and creating a go-to location for fine dining, casual drinks or just a place where people can come and admire the beautiful skyline of the capital. All the vibrancy and energy of Dublin city centre will be at one’s feet in this unique city centre landmark and people can finally experience the heart of their capital from above. This will be a destination hub not just for Dubliners but for the entire country and international tourists from all over the world. We very much look forward to welcoming everybody to Rooftop Central Plaza in the first half of 2020.”

Given the proximity to Trinity College, Temple Bar, Dublin Castle and the Grafton Street area, the opportunity is unrivalled in affording tourists and locals alike the ease of access to what will be Ireland’s most spectacular roof top venue.

With the number of overseas visitors to Ireland now at record levels, Central Plaza will become a must-see Dublin attraction. With the huge growth and popularity of roof top venues across the world, Central Plaza will provide Dublin with its own globally recognised roof destination.

On completion at the end of 2019, Central Plaza will provide 12,500 sq. m of retail, food and beverage and office space. The first tenant openings are expected in early 2020.

The plaza is set to become a thriving food, retail and leisure destination with a total of 6 new units being created around the existing building, the majority of which are now reserved to a diverse and exciting range of operators. Ranging in size from 32 to 600 (Annex) sq. m, further announcements on these lettings are imminent.

The majority of the office space in the development is now leased to WeWork and Amtrust Financial which will bring the office population in the scheme to approx. 1,300. In total there will be upward of 1,500 workers on-site across all uses.