History of the Central Hotel, Dublin

Built in 1887 By Ross & Walpole and designed by Richard  Millar and William Symens of Kildare Street, who also at that time designed The House of Parliament (now the Bank of Ireland). The entire hotel was made from reinforced cast Iron which was a super structure with an outer skin and inner skin.The layout of the building which straddled South Great George's Street and Dame Court utilised most of the ground floor as high earning retail premises and for this period was quite an innovation for Dublin hotels.

The major shareholders in the Central Hotel from 1929 to the 1970's were the Huets, a well-known business family who were of French origin. They were also involved in a major car sales outlet. The other shareholder was Dr. Davitt, who was also the hotel's doctor.

The Central Hotel was one of the earliest Irish hotels to be quoted on the Irish Stock Exchange and was listed in 1960. The Dolphin and the Clarence were the others.

The Central Hotel had some famous managers from 1940 to 1974 when the original hotel closed. Chief among them was Miss Mullen who took over in 1941 having been Manager in the Gresham. She lived and died on the premises. Succeeding Miss Mullen was Peter Huntly who moved from the Whicklow hotel. He left to st up the well known PAB caoch and travel company. 

In the late 1970's the Central Hotel was operated by Paddy Belton T.D. a former Lord Mayor of Dublin. Paddy introduced the first Disco Bar in Dublin called the Molly Malone and also Murphy's Stout was launched from here.

Top of page