FBD Hotels and Resorts has completed a €2m (£1.76m) refurbishment of ground floor areas at the Grand Hotel Malahide, as the company plans to invest a total of €5m (£4.4m) over the next three years.
News of refurbishment comes after the group acquired the four-star Dublin hotel for €55m (£48.3m) in March from the Ryan family, which had owned the business since 1974. The Grand – a 202-bedroom venue overlooking the Malahide estuary – became the seventh property in the company’s portfolio.
Designer Liz Harte led the upgrades, which focused on modernising bars, dining areas and the main lobby while retaining elements of the building’s period character. Among the refreshed spaces are the Marksman Bar, South Bank dining area and the Bianconi room, where afternoon tea is served. The Coast restaurant, which faces the sea, continues to operate as a dinner venue.
Work is also nearing completion on upgrades to the Arena Health and Fitness Club. The project includes a €200k (£175k) investment in the 21-metre swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and gym.
The next stage of the hotel’s redevelopment will include refurbishing bedrooms in the original house and updating the Tara Suite, with completion targeted for 1 February to meet wedding-season demand.
The Grand is a long-established event location and offers meeting rooms, conference facilities and banqueting spaces. Corporate guests have access to recently renovated event areas designed to combine heritage features with newer fittings.
FBD Hotels and Resorts, owned by Farmer Business Developments, operates hotels in Ireland and Sain. Its portfolio includes properties in Waterford, Laois, Dublin and Kildare, along with Sunset Beach Club in Benalmádena and La Cala Resort in Mijas. The group employs about 2,000 people and manages 1,387 rooms and five golf courses.
