Ever been stuck between lectures, in desperate need of a nap and a big old cup of tea, but with nowhere better to go than the arts block couches? We all know the feeling. With bus strikes and rainy days incoming, a place to crash out, refuel and get some work done close to college could really come in handy. This is where Ciaran and Olga Hogan, of The Clockwork Door, hope to step in.
A family run business, The Clockwork Door is Ireland’s first “time-house”. The concept is simple: they provide the space, the atmosphere, and the facilities, and you pay for the time you spend. Complete with high-speed WiFi, a kitchen, bathrooms, living rooms, games rooms and study rooms, The Clockwork Door aims to be a sort of home-away-from-home, a flexible refuge in the city. Situated above EatTokyo, beside Merchant’s Arch on Wellington Quay, you enter the premises by an unassuming orange door and a narrow flight of stairs. Inside, The Clockwork Door is surprisingly spacious, with views over the Liffey and the Ha’penny Bridge.
When I visited, I was welcomed by Ciaran and his wife Olga. Ciaran explained that the inspiration for the business came from a walk he took in the city centre one night a few years ago: “I had been living in Moscow for some time, and I came back to Dublin on Good Friday. It was a ghost town. That shocked me, because I thought that Dublin would have something more than bars and alcohol. So I came across the idea of giving people the atmosphere, which is the real reason people go to bars. They don’t go because of how delicious a pint is, but to meet with a friend. The drink is the excuse, the people are the reason.” Fast-forward 5 years or so and we’re sitting on a squishy couch in the main room of the time-house, sampling the huge range of teas and nibbling biscuits. While there are basic kitchen facilities (coffee machine, sink, microwave, dishwasher, kettle) and a plentiful biscuit supply on site, there will not be food sold on the premises. Olga is keen to assure me that guests will be more than welcome to bring their own food and drinks, or order takeaway, as long as there’s no alcohol. And they won’t need to go very far. “Below us is EatTokyo, and they do very good food: sushi, noodles,” Olga says. “We have a deal with them, so guests will get special rates.”
When asked about how they envisage the various spaces being used, they are enthusiastic about the range of activities that might take place here. Ciaran explains that “the whole concept is in the name: a time-house. In your home you can do what you want. You can technically walk around here in pyjamas. Once no one objects to what you’re doing you can do what you like, even take a nap”. Olga’s eye is clearly on the more productive uses of the space, suggesting that the living room tables could be used for casual language practice, while the study room could be used for lectures, demonstrations or film screenings. A small stage in the main room makes the place ideal for concerts, comedy nights or talks, which customers are welcome to organise. The flexibility and open nature of the space is the whole point. As Olga explains, “there are plenty of coffee shops in Dublin. Here people don’t come for coffee, they come for the community.” “We’re like the real-world Facebook!” chimes Ciaran.
The Clockwork Door is located at 51 Wellington Quay. Visitors are charged per minute, at a rate of 8 cent per minute for the first two hours, 6 cent per minute for the next two hours, and 5 cent per minute after that. Day passes can be bought for 30 euro, and all rates include WiFi, and unlimited tea, coffee and biscuits. A minimum 15 minute charge applies. A special rate of only 5 cent per minute will be offered to Leap Card holders on strike days. Opening hours are 10am-10pm. You can find more details on their website or Facebook page.
This content is sponsored by The Clockwork Door.
