PLEASE READ & HELP

In August 2021, The Shannon Family was gifted by local council an outdoor space from 3 car spaces outside the shop fronts in Foxrock Village to help its business during Covid 19.

During this time, while former restaurant Bistro One was operating under strict guidelines Pala Pizza was conceived, a small self contained pizzeria that got up and running eventually in September 2021. We were provided the space, but realised because of its location, we needed to create an outside area that was welcoming and protected by the elements. Therefore, extensive and substantial investment by ourselves was made.

Over 2 summers we believe we have made a significant impact on the community, so much so, that the decision was made to close Bistro One upstairs and reopen as the now pizzeria and trattoria you are familiar with.

The council has since sent us a letter to discontinue the use of the area and take away the space. On a personal level, Pala Pizza would not exist if it wasn't for this outdoor space. Since opening the restaurant last year our focus has been upstairs and the space has sat idle but our focus is now on getting our little area outside back up and running as the weather starts to improve.

We cannot stress how important this space is to us for those seasonal months of spring, summer & autumn. It truly is apart of Pala Pizza's DNA. It has created jobs within the community and extra footfall to the village. This summer because of demand (a lot of you already asking) we have plans to make the tables downstairs reservable to avoid waits and streamline the service. In the current economic climate all our efforts for the summer have been focussed on the outside space. To recently learn it's going to be removed without further appeal or discussion of a rental agreement effective immediately has us deeply worried.

The council have stated in their letter the reason for removing being that the space was deemed temporary (which we are fully aware of). And while this is true for other hospitality businesses that were granted spaces during the pandemic, it is not true of ours. Pala pizza was born out of it. We only want a chance to appeal.

In the summer of 2022, there were often massive queues downstairs to get into the pizzeria. It was such an awesome sight. If you were one of these people, please consider signing this petition to help us overturn the decision made by the council so we can enter a rental agreement for the space and truly make it ours.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and I'm hoping to see you for a toast outside if we make it happen.

Rory.