Protestors hold "rave" at Dublin hotel amid noise complaint row with neighbouring venue

Protestors threw a "rave" outside a hotel in Dublin this week after its owners launched legal action against a nearby late-night venue over alleged noise complaints.

Last week, the Hoxton Hotel launched a legal challenge against its neighbour, Japanese-themed bar and restaurant Yamamori Izakaya, claiming it has had to close "31 of its 129 rooms" due to “repeated and serious noise nuisance" since it opened in November. 

Yamamori Izakaya, which has been located on South Great George's Street since 1995, is currently permitted to open until 3:AM from Wednesdays to Saturdays, and 2:30AM on Sunday.

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Formerly the Central Hotel, the Hoxton Hotel opened on November 20, 2025, following a lengthy refurbishment which started in 2022. The hotel alleges that noise emitted from its neighbour have resulted in negative reviews and the hotel having to issue refunds, claiming it will have lost €300,000 by the end of March. 

Hundreds gathered on Exchequer Street on Tuesday (February 17) to voice their opposition to the Hoxton Hotel's injunction, with demonstrators dancing in front of a DJ booth at the front of the hotel. 

According to the Irish Mirror, the demonstration was organised by local DJ Blew, who said Yamamori Izakaya "keeps a lot of local DJs in business", and is one of the few venues in the Irish capital "where you can find good music five nights a week, that supports local DJs, and where it’s free entry".

In a statement shared with Mixmag, a spokesperson for Trinity Hospitality - the owners of the Hoxton Hotel - said: "Trinity Hospitality has been seeking to engage constructively with Yamamori Izakaya since late November to conduct joint acoustic testing across both the restaurant unit and the hotel bedrooms to help find a solution." 

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"Yamamori Izakaya informed Trinity Hospitality that it required certain technical information about the hotel refurbishment works before joint testing could be carried out," the statement continues. "Trinity Hospitality's position is that the technical specifications for the refurbishment works are not needed in order for joint testing to proceed." 

"Unfortunately, that testing was not facilitated by Yamamori Izakaya, preventing meaningful technical discussions on a solution. Unfortunately, we were left with no choice but to seek this injunction which relates solely to enabling and accelerating this collaborative process.

However, Yamamori Izakaya has rejected Trinity Hospitality's claims, sharing in a statement to Mixmag: "The previous operators of the Central Hotel deployed the area over our premises as a function room. The current owners chose to convert this area into bedrooms despite our concerns which were known to them."

"During the construction phase, we commissioned an expert report in 2023 to measure sound levels, and this was provided to the company to assist them in installing necessary sound attenuation measures." 

"It is extremely difficult to accept the claims by the company that it is not seeking to curtail cultural or nightlife activity, and that it would like to see us thrive. Its actions are inconsistent with these sentiments," it continues.

Megan Townsend is Mixmag's Deputy Editor, follow her on X