The Licensed Vintners Association

01/07/2026

Dublin needs nightclubs. Dublin needs a late night economy.
If these are to be maintained then the Government must get serious about enacting the Sale of Alcohol Bill

One of the last proper nightclubs left in Dub­lin has effect­ively been defeated by an inter­na­tional hotel chain. Yamamori Iza­kaya on South Great George’s Street, Dub­lin, is end­ing its DJ nights fol­low­ing a noise dis­pute with the nearby Hox­ton...

01/07/2026

Licensed Vintners Association said Vat rate drop from 13.5% to 9% was welcome but said the majority of pubs in Ireland do not serve food and would not benefit

Licensed Vintners Association said Vat rate drop from 13.5% to 9% was welcome but said the majority of pubs in Ireland do not serve food and would not benefit

30/06/2026

We have been pressing for this from the moment the Government said they were going to scrap it in the first place. At a time when cost pressures in the hospitality industry continue to rise, this is a very welcome and critical support for those who serve food.

We thank the Government for following through on their commitment, especially Simon Harris TD & Peter Burke TD, who made telling contributions and who understand why this policy matters so much to those within the food service cohort of the hospitality sector.

17/06/2026

Donall O'Keeffe is appearing before the Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise. As part of his statement he has highlighted the need to keep wage increases down, called for a cut in the cost of SEOs and also pressed for a reduction in alcohol excise.

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) appeared before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment to help highlight some of the cost challenges facing Dublin pubs. The appearance was part of a discussion on ‘Competitiveness, Cost of Doing Business in Ireland’, with oth...

02/06/2026

Donall O'Keeffe was on Newstalk Breakfast this morning, discussing the latest LVA research that shows 3 out of 4 people who socialise in Dublin are in favour of longer opening hours.


Listen back to the piece here 👇

Presented by Anton Savage, a seasoned broadcaster and communications expert, this show has everything you need – and want – to know first thing each morning, brought to you with insight, intelligence and wit.  CONVERSATION THAT COUNTS | Ireland’s national independent talk station for new...

02/06/2026

Nearly one in two people surveyed said more nightclubs are needed in Dublin.
A total of 48 per cent said there should be more nightclubs, while 50 per cent wanted more late bars and 55 per cent said they would like to see more dance venues.

Majority of people who socialise in Dublin support later opening hours for nightclubs, with younger adults showing the strongest support for change.

02/06/2026

Donall O’Keeffe, CEO of the LVA said, “There is a strong desire for later opening times amongst people who socialise and this survey proves it. They don’t like the current 2.30am closing times for late bars and nightclubs, which represent the earliest closing times in the EU. That is even more apparent amongst younger people, with almost 8 out of 10 people between 18 and 34 wanting later opening and 3 out of 4 people in the 35 to 54 age range also supporting such a change."


Click here for more 👇
https://www.lva.ie/3-out-of-4-people-who-socialise-in-dublin-would-like-to-see-later-opening-lva/

28/05/2026

REMINDER: Tomorrow is the deadline for entries for Irish Pub Awards 2026

There are 10 categories available.

LVA & VFI members can enter via: https://www.irishpubawards.ie

27/05/2026

Delighted to announce the election of John Byrne The Burnaby as the new LVA Chair for 2026/27.
John will be ably supported by new LVA Vice Chair Stephen Kelly Keelings of Donabate and the incoming LVA Board.
Our thanks as well to our outgoing Chair, Tom Cleary The Temple Bar Pub for all his work on behalf of the LVA over the last year.

John Byrne of The Burnaby has been elected as the new Chair of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) for 2026/27. He will be supported by new LVA Vice Chair Stephen Kelly of Keelings, Donabate. The full LVA Board for the coming year is as follows: John Byrne, The Burnaby Chair Stephen Kelly, Keeli...

29/04/2026

The Irish Pub Awards 2026 have been launched. This year the launch event took place in The Laurels, Clondalkin, home of the current Irish Pub of the Year winners.

The awards are now open for entries from all LVA and VFI members.

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA) and the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) have launched the Irish Pub Awards 2026. The launch took place in The Laurels Bar & Restaurant, Clondalkin, who are the reigning Irish Pub of the Year for 2025. Pubs are now free to enter up to ten categories with j...