Irish Taxi Forum
Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: silverbullet on August 23, 2023, 06:44:44 pm
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We could call it the pub-pocalypse, as bars big and small across the Rebel County have thrown in the towel since the end of the pandemic.
Last year, Cork was losing a pub every week - as 54 closed their doors in the first full year out of pandemic restrictions.
Of the 108 pubs that closed across Ireland in 2022 alone - half were in County Cork, with rural areas, our towns, villages and crossroads, seeing by far the most closures. While pubs in Cork city have been closing - many have also found a future under new owners, with the likes of Clancy's on Princes Street and The Southern Star rising from the dead with major investment and stylish refurbs.
It's in the towns and villages across Munster where derelict and boarded-up pubs - once thriving businesses at the heart of their communities - stand as a stark reminder of how the trade has suffered.
Cork and Limerick lose the most pubs as almost 2,000 have closed nationwide since 2005
A shocking new report from Drinks Industry Group Ireland (DIGI) has revealed that nearly 2,000 Irish pubs have gone since 2005 - and since the pandemic, the losses have been accelerating.
Since 2005 - both Cork and Limerick have lost one-third of their licensed premises - the highest rates in the country.
The factors involved range from rural depopulation, changing social habits, the lack of young people willing to take on the tough business of being a rural publican and the pandemic followed by the cost of living crisis.
As the pub trade faces an uncertain future - we thought we'd look at the ones we have lost in Cork- not all are gone forever, some have been taken over and renamed, some may rise again as gastropubs or craft beer pubs, following the only part of the market that is showing growth.
But the list of much loved pubs lost in just the past year includes.
Fitzgibbons in Crosshaven
The owners of this grand old harbour village pub in Crosser threw in the towel in January, with their reasons reflecting the difficulties facing so many as they said: "It is with a heavy heart and extreme regret that we are going to be closing the bar permanently. The owners of the building will take a look at other options for the bar but have said that apartments are not going in. The rising cost of electricity and gas has made the daily running of the bar very difficult."
On a more positive note, Cronin's Bar in Crosser has reopened after a devestating flood and is doing a roaring trade, thanks largely to their award-winning food.
Bunnys by the sea
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Bunnyconnellans - Myrtleville
Not far from Crosser, the famous Bunnyconnellans recently announced they would have to close due to a combination of staffing problems, rising costs and the cost of living crisis.
If a pub as famous as Bunny's - with it's amazing sea views and famous food offering - can throw in the towel, it shows how difficult the environment has become.
Brewdog - MacCurtain Street
This was a shock to the pub trade in Cork - in May, after just 9 months of trading and after a huge investment, this franchise operation from the famous Brewdog craft-beer n'burgers chain suddenly closed.
This was a big pub with a big name and a major food offering a spokesperson for BrewDog in the UK told CorkBeo at the time of the closing that they hoped to "bring BrewDog back to Cork as soon as we can".
The loss was a blow for jobs as well with the pub having 50 full and part-time staff.
BrewDog Cork
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Baker Street Bar - Gurranabraher
Another one that went in January - the Northside pub was a very popular local in a busy community but they took the decision to close the bar side of the trade and expand the offie.
It was a pragmatic decision given the change in lifestyles we have seen, especially since the pandemic, with more people drinking at home, or socialising in each other's houses. Another telling example of how the traditional Irish pub trade has struggled with change.
Baker Street - pub will close but off-licence and shop will expand
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Wild Goose Steakhouse Bar - Mallow
A very popular pub with families and a passing trade, they announced just weeks ago that they will be closing.
The Wild Goose had been serving top-quality food for 22 years. But as the cost of living crisis continues, the owners said they were unwilling to pass the increased cost of dining out on to their customers and they have instead decided to cease trading.
The restaurant's owners, Jim and Noel O'Connell have described the price hikes in their restaurant as painful. They said they had always tried to serve the best food at a reasonable price, with only one of their main courses coming in above €20.
Their long-term customers took to social media to say they were devastated to hear about the closure, with many eating at the family restaurant regularly over the last two decades.
Scullys in Newmarket was famous for its Trad sessions
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Scully's - Newmarket
Yet another County Cork pub that closed its doors - just last month as the family owned bar with a history going back over 100 years finally called last orders. Scullys was famous for it's traditional music and for the hospitality of it's late, legendary publican, Mick Scully.
Scullys was very much a traditional Irish village pub, a lively place with weekly music sessions and lots of regulars. The loss of pubs like this shows how tough the trade has become - and what is slipping away from communities across Cork, Munster and Ireland.
And finally - Gone but Not Gone - Nanas on Douglas Street.
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Brew dog in the heart of the Washington street binge area made the bad decision to serve only craft beers at exhorbitant prices, I'm surprised it even lasted 9 months.
The bottom one on the list Nana's reopened on Douglas street last week renamed as 'The Hyde' which I think is a reference to Douglas Hyde the first president of Ireland ??
Baker Street in Grawn was the closest pub to Knocka, enough said !
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Price of pints is too fucking expensive, but lobby groups thinking their is a drinking culture(alcoholics) in Ireland, and make it expensive to stop people drinking. People are going to drink regardless, but the bigger picture is putting people out of work.
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The idea that Paddies are rampant alcoholics was always a bit of a myth. In fact, I always found the Brits more accustomed to all day drinking... in Ireland it's only really the unemployable who consistently do the day shift between the bar and the bookies. However, pub culture has eroded to a large extent over the last few decades. When I started driving a cab c.30 years ago a busy night up above in Dublin centered around bringing clients to and from public houses. These days journeys associated with acquisition and supply of illegal narcotics by far outweigh pub jobs. For whatever reason the pub is no longer the centre of the Irish universe.
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They out-priced themselves. The students now have a cheap snort and go to bars later and stand outside with one pint all night. The greed of business in Ireland is shocking. ::rant