Following the jailing of two of his children for violent assault, publican Charlie Chawke will change paperwork of famous pub his son Bill ran to avoid  objections to upcoming licence renewal

Published: 22:52, 23 July 2026 | Updated: 22:57, 23 July 2026 Searson's of Baggot Street faces its annual licence renewal at the Dublin District Court in September, just weeks after one of its directors, Bill Chawke, was jailed for a violent assault. The pub’s licence expires on September 30, with the renewal due to be heard at the District Court’s annual licensing sitting on September 24. Bill Chawke, who has been a director of Searsons Inns Limited since August 2012, was jailed along with his sister Alison after both pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, relating to an attack on two men in the Dunraven Arms Hotel in Adare, Co. Limerick, in November 2023. Their father, publican Charlie Chawke, visited his jailed children last week. While business sources have told the Mail that an objection to the licence would be unusual, it is understood the Chawkes aren’t willing to take any chances with the courts. ‘Existing licences are 99% guaranteed to be renewed. It would be very unusual for the guards to raise an objection for such a long-standing establishment,’ a source said. ‘However, from what I am hearing, and given their recent experience in court, Charlie is not taking any chances and he is said to be going to change the “on-paper” ownership of the pub, until Bill is released and ready to take back over the reins.’ Searson’s is the only pub in the Chawke Group that Charlie Chawke leases rather than owns outright. The wider group also includes the Bank Bar and Restaurant on College Green and the Goat Bar & Grill in Goatstown, among other Dublin and Limerick venues. Company records show Bill Chawke also holds directorships in two other Chawke-linked firms, Pembridge SF Limited and Chawkes Woodfired Pizza Limited. Objections to the renewal of a pub’s licence can be raised by An Garda Síochána or other interested parties on grounds relating to the character or fitness of those connected with the running of the premises. ‘If it was a new pub and the owners were dodgy or had been convicted of a serious assault, the guards would make an objection. But in this case I don’t see it,’ the source said. ‘Still, as I said, Charlie Chawke didn’t get where he is by leaving anything to chance. And he’s not going to leave the licence for one of his most profitable pubs in the lap of the gods.’ It is thought that Charlie’s visit to prison last weekend was to put some business affairs in order. The source said: ‘Obviously he wanted to see his children, but there are also practicalities of keeping the business going while Bill’s locked up.’ Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.