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 to be a very happy 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 very clever and has been thoughtfully excecuted to provide compact yet very comfortable accommodation that is handy to all of the city centre attractions.
Stating boldly on their website "We believe big rooms are over-rated" (and the Guide agrees), the benefits of their smart little Scandinavian design-led rooms are well argued - quality is there where it is needed, and that is a defining factor throughout the hotel. The teams involved in creating this unique home-from-home are proudly named on their website and their combined talents have resulted in a ground-breaking destination that combines pared back Scandinavian chic with Irish materials and crafts, making for a pleasing and very relaxing space.
The same principles apply in public areas, 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.
The concept of the clever little wren has special connotations in Ireland, and the name of the hotel did not come about by chance - so talking about the story with guests is all part of the experience.
