The Wright Venue is set to close at the end of the month. Unlike many of Dublin’s recent venue closures the Swords nightlife institution story has a happy ending. The venue has been bought by Bodytonic, who run a number of successful pubs and clubs in Dublin and the nautical boogie festival Beat Yard and will reopen later this year as the Jam Park. While a new gym will also be located in the building following its refurbishment.

A statement regarding The Wright Venue – issued on behalf of Michael Wright of the Michael JF Wright Hospitality Group:

After 10 years at the forefront of Dublin’s social scene, The Wright Venue will close at the end of this month. (January 2019).  Re-imagined and managed by The Body Tonic Group, it will reopen as ‘Jam Park’ in the coming months, as an exciting new venue for Dublin’s northside. All Wright Venue staff are being offered positions within the company.

The award winning Michael JF Wright Hospitality Group, which recently announced plans to open St Andrew’s Food Hall in Dublin city centre, plans to re-focus on its growing restaurant and food businesses, which include Marqette at Dublin Airport, The Bloody Stream, Wright’s Anglers Rest, Wright’s Café Bar, Wright’s Findlater Howth and Gilbert and Wright.

Michael Wright said: “The Wright Venue has been an incredible journey. Since taking a chance and building a venue in North Dublin in the worst of the recession, we’ve spent a decade welcoming customers in their thousands from all over the country. We thrived thanks to the talented and passionate team that helped create the unique Wright Venue atmosphere and reputation and by offering quality entertainment and major stars. I’m particularly proud that we created a safe and enjoyable venue for thousands of young people with our teen events.  I’d like to thank everyone that supported us and look forward to seeing Jam Park, Bodytonic’s new venture, thrive as we did. For us, our focus now is the food business. We plan to bring the same passion that made such a success of The Wright Venue to new projects such as St Andrew’s Food Hall.”