First Irish Pret A Manger outlet opens on Dublin's Dawson Street

Pret A Manger's first Irish shop has opened in Dublin City Centre.

The popular UK coffee chain's new shop on Dawson Street is the first of 20 locations set to open across the Republic and Northern Ireland over the next decade, creating approximately 500 jobs in total.

Influence Louise Cooney and Love Island winner Greg Shea at the new Pret A Manger shop on Dawson Street ahead of the official opening on Friday. Photo: Brian McEvoy

The Dawson Street shop will work with a number of local Irish suppliers, while each day's food surplus will be donated to Depaul Dublin through The Pret Foundation.

On Thursday, Pret offered free lunch to 300 lucky customers ahead of Friday's official opening.

Vanessa Boland and Audrey Ryan were among the first to experience the new Pret shop on Dawson Street. Photo: Brian McEvoy

The 25 new Dublin staff are expecting to welcome approximately 10,000 customers over the next week, offering "the same great tasting products that Pret is known for, including freshly handmade food and organic coffee and teas, all prepared in the shop’s onsite kitchen daily".

Speaking earlier this week, Pret's Dublin operations manager Mikey Mulqueen said: "I speak for the entire team when I say we are excited to open our doors and to provide our customers with the signature friendly Pret experience with great tasting food and coffee".