Chef Dylan McGrath was yesterday granted a full public house drinks licence for his new €1.4 million restaurant on Fade Street, Dublin.

Objections to the Circuit Civil Court granting the seven-day licence, which allows the sale of pints and shorts as well as wine, had been led by nightclub entrepreneur John Reynolds, owner of the neighbouring Market Bar.

In granting the licence yesterday Judge Matthew Deery said he accepted the word of Mr McGrath that he was first and foremost a restaurateur and had no intention of running his restaurant, known as Fade Street Social, as a public house.

Judge Deery told Constance Cassidy SC he accepted that plans presented to the court when the premises had been granted a declaratory order two years ago had not been materially changed since. He said there had been no significant change to the exterior of the former bacon-curing factory, which is in an architecturally protected area.

Judge Deery told Ms Cassidy, who appeared with Michael McGrath, that while there were five bars within the premises, none of them had a cash register, and drinks and food would be charged on a joint tab. The judge said it was significant that at no stage of the planning or licensing procedure had there been any objection by An Garda or by the fire authority, and the objectors, consisting of four bar and restaurant owners, had not lodged objections at the initial stages.

Mr McGrath said there had been a “soft opening” of the restaurant at the weekend but he was planning to have it fully open by tomorrow night.