Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
A WELL-KNOWN chain of Cork cafés has closed its outlets in the city centre, in Grange in the suburbs, and Ringaskiddy in the county with immediate effect.
In a statement, the operators of Perry Street cafés Brian Drinan and Paul Coffey said that they were saddened to have to announce the closure of their outlets.
“It is with deep regret that we announce the immediate closure of all three Perry Street Market Café locations,” the operators said.
They said the hospitality industry has faced “unprecedented challenges in recent years” and that the difficulties are intensifying.
“Reflecting on the many good years, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who visited our restaurants. We have had the privilege of serving wonderful customers, watching families grow and sharing countless memorable moments with our community,” the statement said.
“A special thank you goes to our fantastic team who were truly the face of Perry Street. “Your dedication and warmth have been invaluable and we are incredibly grateful for everything you have done.”
They said that the decision to close “was not made lightly and we are genuinely heartbroken to reach this point”.
Meanwhile, spiralling costs, the high rate of VAT and increases in overheads has led to a number of high profile closures in the Irish hospitality industry in recent months.
Repeated calls by the hospitality industry for the reduction of the VAT rate from 13.5 percent to nine percent were not heeded in the recent Budget.
Over the past twelve months Cork has seen the closure of one of Ireland’s longest running Chinese restaurants Tung Sing, in addition to the popular Nash 19 cafe and the Jackie Lennox fish and chip takeaway.
Eurostat, the EU’s statistical agency, has said that Ireland is the second most expensive country in the EU, behind only Denmark, with consumer prices 42% above the EU average.
Ireland is the third most expensive country in the EU for restaurants and hotels – and the second most expensive for alcohol.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
But Mehole said how great businesses are doing under this government, in his own head obviously
@Brian D’Arcy: That lad caught robbing a takeaway in Limerick has a very Irish name. What possessed him we’ll never know.
@Marvin Dollery: I presume if his name was seanie Murphy you’d be OK with it but since it’s not, lord save us its a travesty XD
@HisMastersAlibi: Nothing remotely funny about a foreigner breaking into a takeaway in broad daylight to commit crime.
@Marvin Dollery: A takeaway run by “foreigners” as it happens.
@ecrowley ecrowley: Just goes to show, they’ll eat their own if they think they can get away with it. The mind boggles, son.
@Marvin Dollery: Nothing funny about Irish people robbing places either. Take a trip down to the courts some day, you’ll be disappointed at what a small proportion of foreigners are in trouble
@Tom O’ Donnell: Hey Tom, I thought you were meant to be retired from judgement life. Bored now that you can’t let hardened criminals off the hook with lenient sentences?
@Marvin Dollery: right enough you never get Irish people committing crimes .
Langerball
@Marvin Dollery: I’m laughing at you ,ya racist tool XD
@Tom O’ Donnell: they just havnt been caught yet
They owed 1m to creditors. All these places closing owe fortunes to the gov from Covid and warehoused vat
In the restaurant business now, you have to be a cheap basic place or a going a bit gourmet experince place.
No space for normal mid range restaurants anymore.
Council rates should be reduced by half or restaurants.
@Gavan Hogan: Council rates by law can’t be lowered, only increased.
@Brian D’Arcy: Perhaps the new government would change that law to help create vibrant urban centres in our cities and towns.
Condolences to the staff, but I’m not gonna say that an already overpriced latte shouldn’t be at 9% VAT, when I’m paying that on every electricity unit I use.
It was a luxury tax at 3% when introduced, now it’s on most everything at much higher rates.
Sorry for the owners or customers, but you can not blame VAT when literally selling luxury stuff. Maybe closing 2 of the 3 places and actually making one good one would have been a better approach.
FFG. They really have every fibre of this country destroyed
@N D K: But unfortunately for the rest of us these fuc kers will be all re-elected. Until the voters cop on to themselves nothing will ever change.
@N D K: they don’t run cafes though, do they? Can’t be blamed for every cafe closing. 50% of them close in the first 2 years anyway. These guys had tax debts apparently
@N D K: If you can’t run a business, don’t. Your inability to be profitable has nothing to do with the government.
@N D K: ffg had nothing to do with the massive tax debts the two owners had. Keep up.
Maybe Tanaiste Micheal Martin will send a nice message like he did with the Lennox’s whilst sitting on his hands as Taoiseach & Tanaiste for the last four & half years, whilst Cafes & Restaurants were closing weekly. He & his useless Govt allowed the Energy Companies fleece Cafes & Restaurants & the ordinary Consumer, while they were making record breaking profits on the back of all these people. The Energy grants weren’t sufficient & were mopped up by the Energy companies constantly increasing their prices, it needed action & the Energy companies to be reined in, but Micheal put the mega profits of the CEO’s & Shareholders of these Companies ahead of Cafes, Restaurants & ordinary Consumers. Hopefully the people & businesses of Cork will teach him a lesson in the general election.
@SV3tN8M4: there are a lot of reasons why cafes and restaurants are closing down, but as usual, your post lacks any balance, nor context of the environment that a risk taking business operates in. Not everything is the government’s fault
@Kevin Kerr: I know a Cafe & Cafe/Restaurant in our locality who both had to close. Yes that are multiple issues around closing, but it was chiefly Energy bills that scuppered them. It was their biggest bill monthly, fridges, lighting, freezers, chill blasters etc, everything going 24 hrs. They campaigned & lobbied through the RAI begging Govt to intervene in relation to Energy costs but to no avail. All the Energy Grants did was allow the Energy companies push the price up further, which negated any help. Good hard working people who gave local employment abandoned by this Govt who you are on here defending every day you disgusting excuse for a human being. You are sick, come to my community spouting your shill propaganda & see how long you last. You are even lower than the Trolls on here
@SV3tN8M4: it’s not propaganda. And I very much doubt that utilities were a higher monthly cost than wages. And you really need to get a hold of your anger and cut out the abuse
@SV3tN8M4: You must like your ampersands.
I went to this old great spoon once. Horrible smell like someone died and filthy crockery with bits of old food stuck on. A filthy hovel..Good riddance.
@Basildon Joe: Great story!
Oh sorry … that should read ‘greasy story’.
What was the point of the story again?
@Brendan O’Brien: he’s probably remembering back to the pie and mash shops as he’s English and all lol..
@Clare Power: you 2 are the same geezer. Proper sad
@Clare Power: Yes: I bet he loves a jellied eel.
@Basildon Joe: because 2 people have an opinion, we must be one…how original…
@Brendan O’Brien: The really sad thing is I’m actually from Basildon, and this nasty piece has the cheek to pretend.. I had to report him for his vile comments the other day.
@Clare Power: talking to yourself! Too weird
@Basildon Joe: there’s a big stable of em’…… they ‘pretend ‘ argue & reply to different accounts but it’s all the one source…..everyone is aware of their carry ons….. been reported loads of time to no avail unfortunately, all brennys accounts are pathetic and sad
@Frank Mc Carthy: brenny even set up one account ( ‘kevin kerrr’….. Seriously, not very original I know) just to stalk me cause I exposed the multi account trolls often……… Just ignore him, he thinks his bullying and intimidating will push genuine posters away….. I stand up to him
@Frank Mc Carthy: Are you mad Buster…why did you have to drop that account, I don’t want to believe the rumors. You can answer via Kevvy, John or Trump or what’s the new guy…Marvin or something
@Clare Power: oh yeah, any exposure brings out the ol’ ” deny and deflect” attack– once again I say Sad & Pathetic.
@Frank Mc Carthy: You’re denying the Buster account was closed down and deflecting by accusing others of the very thing you do….you never once denied you were Buster!
@Frank Mc Carthy: they are proper pathetic and sound Frank. Stay lucky pal
@Clare Power: lol, ?? , years ago, in the states we had a beautiful husky called buster….. Great dog he was too!!
@Basildon Joe: don’t mind a bit of banter but name calling gets you reported…bye bye
@Clare Power: You missed some good old psychiatric evaluation it seems.
@Kevvy kerrr: who’s we? You and Mrs Kerrrrrrrrr, Frank?
@Kevin Kerr: he answered in the wrong profile….perfect
@Clare Power: psycho loon bint.
@Clare Power: lol as they’d say themselves
@Kevin Kerr: genuine question stalker…… How many accounts in the stable nowadays…….. Oh, here’s a BIG LOL
Rates, rent, and insurance. The first because of the hugh costs in funding local authority pensions. The second because of greed. The third because of a cartel and lack of regulation.
Awful overpriced mouldy food. Went there twice, ripped off once, had to leave the second time as food had actual mold on it. Sorry to see more jobs go and hope the decent staff get new roles fast, but frankly no loss to the culinary world
government will take over the properties for asylum seekers!
Did they forget to mention Debt Warehousing!!!!
Could people who refer to Micheál Martin as ‘Mehole’ would have their accounts terminated immediately? Just a thought.
have your say