Plans underway to convert popular Dundalk pub to apartments

Plans are underway for the change of use of a pub at Park Street in Dundalk to a retail unit and apartments.

BKN Calla Property Ltd has applied to Louth County Council for planning permission for the development at 40 Park Street, Dundalk, the address for Forty Bar, a bar and entertainment venue.

Planning permission is being sought for the change of use of the existing ground floor public house to a retail unit and two, one-bed room apartments.

BKN Calla Property Ltd is also seeking the go ahead for a further change of use of a first-floor storage area to a two-bed room apartment.

The planning application also provides for various elevational and sectional changes, associated bulk, bin & bike storage, and also the demolition of an existing canopy over a smoking areas, as well as all site development works.

A decision is due on the application, which is at a pre-validation stage, by 12 January 2027, with submissions due by 13 December 2026.

Forty Bar, which has been in operation for several years now, was previously Callan's Off-Licence, a family run business for over 40 years.

BKN Calla Property Ltd was granted planning permission in 2025 for works which included the change of use from an existing storage building to office/general business use, as well as a sub-division of the ground floor into individual office/general business incubator units with ancillary canteen and sanitary facilities.

It was refused planning permission in May of this year however, for alterations to the planning permission granted in 2025 where it sought the go ahead for alterations to the as granted ground floor area, to facilitate the inclusion of access to a proposed two bedroom apartment on the first floor, with associated balcony, bin & bike store and all site development works.