Plan for "intimate" wine bar at former butchers in Athlone

By Rebekah O'Reilly

Plans have been submitted for am "intimate" wine bar on Dublin Gate Street in Athlone.

The application has been submitted by applicants Matsvey Chuiko and Olga Samafalava on Tuesday, October 27, for a change of use of the existing butchers to independent wine bar.

The proposed business, the 'White Rabbit', is set to fill the unit formerly occupied by popular butcher, Horan's Pork Shop, which closed at the end of 2024.

The proposed venue, which is approximately 27 square metres, would accommodate approximately 10 to 15 seated customers, and would be open to the general public during normal opening hours.

The application shares plans for "a small, intimate wine-focused hospitality venue" which would serve wine; a small cold food offering to accompany the wine, such as cheese boards, charcuterie and olives; and would have only quiet background music.

"In the future, we may occasionally introduce complementary wine-focused activities such as small wine tastings, themed wine selections or special weeks highlighting wines from particular regions or countries. These would be secondary to the normal day-to-day operation of the wine bar," the applicants wrote in the documents.

The design scheme for the proposed business, designed by interior designer and decorator Viktor Tarakanov, features an eclectic 'Alice In Wonderland' style, with portraits of white rabbits, and pale blue silk and taffeta featured throughout, with a pale green on the interior walls.

The applicants say the wine bar could add to Athlone's "strong and well-established pub and hospitality culture", offering "a small specialist wine-focused concept that is currently not widely represented in the town".

The application read: "For local residents, it would provide an alternative environment for meeting friends and enjoying an evening in the town centre. For visitors, we believe that adding further variety to Athlone’s hospitality offering can enhance the visitor experience and encourage visitors to spend more time in the town centre."

A decision on the application is due by Monday, December 21.