Two of Dublin’s biggest hospitality venue operators have merged to form a new group, which will control 12 of the city’s most popular venues.
The Mercantile Group and the Capital Bars Group are merging to form the Mercantile Group, which will employ around 600 people. The enlarged group said that it has revenues of some €40m per annum.
Previously to the merger, the Mercantile Group was controlled by Frank Gleeson, who has been operating entertainment venues in Dublin for 20 years.
The Capital Bars Group was controlled by Danu Investment Partners, a Dublin-based private investment firm led by Mark O’Meara, Leonard Ryan and Michael O’Rourke, and EMI-MR Investment LLC, a US-based investor group. Capital Bars comprised four pubs, including Cafe en Seine and The George, and was bought in 2014 by the consortium for a reported €15m.
Popular
The newly formed group will control a number of well-known bars and entertainment venues in Dublin city, including Café en Seine (pictured), The George, Whelan’s and The Mercantile Hotel.
In Association with
Other venues in the Mercantile Group’s portfolio include French bistro The Green Hen, Nick Munier’s Pichet restaurant on Trinity Street and East Side Tavern, a bar and restaurant on Leeson Street.
Frank Gleeson will head up the new Mercantile Group, which said it is planning to launch a significant capital expenditure programme. Gleeson added: “This is a transformational deal for our businesses and will position the Mercantile Group at the forefront of the sector in Dublin.
“We have ambitious plans to grow the business further both in Dublin and internationally, and we are looking forward to a very exciting period ahead.”
