Led by Michael Struck, Ruby is working with ARA Europe to build a new hotel, with 272 rooms and more than 500m2 of public spaces. This new hotel will continue the group's international expansion.
Ruby Hotels, led by founder and CEO Michael Struck, is leaving for the "Emerald Isle" with the announcement of Ruby Molly, due to open in the third quarter of 2024. The Munich-based group's Lean Luxury Design Hotel will be built in Dublin city centre: a brand new building with 272 rooms and more than 500 m2 of bar, café and lounge space on the ground floor, for guests and visitors alike.
The new Ruby Hotel will be centrally built at the junction of Arran Street East and Mary Street Little. Capel Street, home to many shops, restaurants and coffee shops, is right around the corner. Dublin's famous Fruit & Vegetable Market, known for its historic Victorian halls, is diagonally opposite the hotel. The market is being revived and will be a central attraction for all Dublin's foodies. The shopping streets, such as Henry Street and Grafton Street, can be reached in ten minutes and are bursting with boutiques and department stores to indulge in while shopping. The Temple Bar district, with its numerous authentic pubs, theatres and clubs on the south bank of the river, can be reached quickly and easily on foot via Grattan Bridge. The hotel is also conveniently located to travel and transport links with Four Courts and Jervis tram stops within walking distance, and Heuston and Connolly train stations accessible without changing trains. The airport is 40 minutes away by Dublin Bus. The spacious Ruby Bar and Lounge spaces, which you can easily spot from the street, are designed to invite local residents in the typical Ruby style. Architecturally, the new building is expertly integrated into its surroundings. The hotel's facade derives its aesthetic from the fruit market: the reddish-yellow bricks, extra-high ceiling and windows on the ground floor create an extraordinary sense of space. The rooms on the top floor have a private terrace accessible only to guests.
With the upcoming opening of two more hotels in the UK, an opening in the Netherlands in 2022 and two new hotels in Switzerland, Ireland is the sixth European country in Ruby's expansion plan. The development partner is ARA Europe and the executive architects are John Fleming Architects in Dublin. Interior design will be provided by Ruby's in-house design team under the creative direction of Matthew Balon. Ruby Molly, in line with the group's other hotels, will follow Ruby's 'Lean Luxury' philosophy: prime location, high-end furnishings and design excellence. All this is offered at an affordable price by leaving out the superfluous and focusing on the essentials.
On the announcement, Michael Struck said: "The current challenges and future prospects of the industry have confirmed our 'Lean Luxury' approach. We create a luxury and unique hotel experience that is affordable for our guests and combine this with a cost structure that is leaner and more flexible than usual. This has the added benefit of reducing risk for our property partners. Our strategy works because we fit our luxury into a relatively small area. We plan and build more modularly; we centralise more and we automate systems consistently behind the scenes." Alex Ray, managing director of ARA Europe emphasises: "ARA is delighted to partner with Ruby Hotels on its first investment in Dublin. Ruby is a high-quality operator and its lean-luxury offering will serve an underserved segment of the market. ARA is an active participant in the Dublin market and always looking for further opportunities across all sectors.".