2024 Award Winners SUSTAINABILITY AWARD 2024

Wren Urban Nest, Dublin

The 2007 closure of Andrew's Lane Theatre caused a lot of angst, but its eventual replacement with 'Dublin's most sustainable hotel' has proved a welcome outcome - and its memory lives on here too, in the hotel restaurant's name, ALT. The narrow site is now home to a nine-storey building, complete with technology that provides renewable systems for hot water and space heating - and even the kitchen is carbon neutral. The brainchild of Neville O'Boyle and Mark Butler of the environmentally-conscious waste management solutions company, KeyWaste, the concept of Wren is clever - it’s handy to the city centre attractions and the accommodation is compact yet very comfortable. Stating boldly on their website "We believe big rooms are over-rated" (and the Guide agrees), the Scandinavian design led rooms have lot going for them - quality is there where it is needed, and that is a defining factor throughout the hotel. The same principles apply throughout, notably the restaurant and bar, ALT, with its focus on simple tasty food (much of it organic and local/ Irish) and the thoughtful drinks lists, which make an interesting read. Combining pared back Scandinavian chic with Irish materials and crafts makes for a pleasing and very relaxing space at this ground-breaking destination.