A newly opened Dublin hotel, which is seeking an injunction against a long-established live music bar and restaurant over noise levels, said it "wholeheartedly supports the cause of protecting cultural institutions" in the city.
The Hoxton Hotel on Exchequer Street, the site of the former Central Hotel, filed proceedings last week against neighbouring Yamamori Izakaya on George's Street "to reduce excessive noise transfer".
It said there had been "numerous" complaints from guests, and it has been forced to close "approximately one quarter" of its rooms as a result.
It said proceedings were "not seeking to close" Yamamori Izakaya, but were aimed at "enabling a collaborative solution".
However, the legal move sparked an angry response from supporters of Yamamori Izakaya, who are due to hold a protest outside the premises this evening.
They said the venue has been operating in the location for many years prior to the hotel redevelopment, and it needs protecting.
They also fear that the case is another example of the ongoing pressures facing cultural and nightlife spaces in the capital.
In a lengthy post on Instagram, Yamamori management said: "It is extremely difficult to accept the claims made by the company that it is not seeking to curtail cultural or nightlife activity, and that it would like to see us thrive.
"It is also hard to accept the company's claim that it had no choice but to seek the injunction."
In a statement to RTÉ News this afternoon, a spokesperson for Trinity Hospitality said: "The purpose of the filing last week has not changed; it was always focused on advancing a testing and resolution process.
"We have now been able to commence the (acoustics) testing process, which we hope will enable us to work together on a collaborative solution to reduce excessive noise transfer from Yamamori Izakaya into the hotel.
"We respect people’s right to protest and wholeheartedly support the cause of protecting cultural institutions.
"We have offered a meeting with one of the representatives of the protest and would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue at hand, explain what's happening, listen to their views and keep the dialogue open."
