Cork's BrewDog bar closes after just nine months in operation

A spokesperson for the company said it hoped to bring BrewDog back to Cork as soon as possible 

The Cork franchise was one of more than 100 BrewDog bars worldwide, first opening in Scotland in 2017.

Scottish bar BrewDog, which opened in Cork City in July last year has closed suddenly after just nine months in operation, a spokesperson for the company confirmed this morning.

The bar was opened as a franchise by Cork owners, Westside Leisure, which also operates several pubs and nightclubs across the city including An Bróg, Alibi, Voodoo Rooms, Barbella, and Barbarosa.

Confirming the closure, a spokesperson for Westside Leisure told the Irish Examiner: “It is with great regret and genuine sadness that we have to announce that due to the continuing deterioration of economic conditions in the hospitality industry and ever-increasing operational costs, Westside Leisure trading as BrewDog Cork has made the very difficult decision to close.

“We wish to thank all our customers for your fantastic support over the last year and especially our staff for all their efforts during this time.”

Following the closure, a spokesperson for the brewery's parent company said it was unfortunate that its Cork partner had decided to close the bar, telling the Irish Examiner: “We hope to bring BrewDog back to Cork as soon as we can.”

Located in the former Grand Central Social site on James Street, which was also operated by Westside Leisure, the Cork franchise was one of more than 100 BrewDog bars worldwide, first opening in Scotland in 2017.

The Cork franchise's social media channels disappeared overnight, with the James Street bar also being removed from BrewDog's official website, leaving just one Irish location remaining — the company's first bar in Dublin's docklands which opened in 2019.

In December, BrewDog lost its B Corp status less than two years after joining the scheme, which offers certification of a company’s ethical commitment to the environment, community, and staff.

It followed an apology issued by BrewDog after former workers alleged that a “culture of fear” existed within the business, with “toxic attitudes” directed towards junior staff.

It is understood that B Lab, the organisation that issues B Corp certificates, launched an investigation after staff submitted complaints following a BBC documentary, Disclosure: The Truth About Brewdog  which looked at the brewer’s workplace culture.

Following its launch last July, BrewDog's establishment in Cork City was met with protests from activists who cited past mistreatment allegations against the bar's UK parent company.

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