Pizza eatery mooted at former Athlone gastropub

A planning application has been lodged for the conversion of a prominent former Athlone gastropub into a pizza restaurant and take-away.

Signage proposals submitted as part of the planning bid show that the former Stairwell gastropub premises at 23 Mardyke Street, which previously traded as Murphy's Law, is now intended to host a branch of the Pizza Max fast food chain.

Muhammad Riaz lodged a planning application with Westmeath County Council on Wednesday, April 22, seeking approval for a "change of use of existing public licensed bar at first floor level to restaurant / take away".

The application also sought approval for "external signage to the existing shop front," illustrations of which show the proposed Pizza Max branding for the business.

Other drawings submitted with the planning application show that the kitchen and take-away section of the business would be located on the ground floor level, with restaurant seating proposed for the first floor.

The premises, which fronts onto part of the recently-pedestrianised section of Mardyke Street and Sean Costello Street, traded as Murphy's Law until the summer of 2022.

It then reopened as The Stairwell gastropub, which closed towards the end of 2023.

The website of the Pizza Max chain said it opened its first branch in Dublin in 2005 and has since "grown into a thriving network of over 70 locations across Ireland and Northern Ireland".

Westmeath County Council is due to make a decision on the proposed change of use for the Mardyke Street premises by June 16 next.