The newspaper reports that agents for Greene King have approached owners of a number of large suburban pubs in Dublin, asking if they’d be interested in selling.
The company reportedly wants suburban sites with large car parks, particularly in working-class areas. Greene King declined to comment.
Charlie Chawke, owner of a number of pubs in the south of the city, is quoted saying: “I was approached, but I am just not interested in selling.”
The paper pointed to “industry sources” saying that a third British pub chain has appointed advisors to represent it in Ireland.
JD Wetherspoon lead
Last month Wetherspoon confirmed that it’s looking to spend €1m (£0.84m) buying the freehold of the Tonic pub in Blackrock, Dublin.
Company chairman Tim Martin said: “We have made a few offers on sites in the Republic of Ireland. Nothing has been signed or sealed. We believe there is an opportunity to do well there.”