Back for the jazz, Cork’s pearl, The Oyster Tavern

City centre premises reopens after a three-year hiatus

Thomas Harden of The Oyster Tavern at the English Market, Market Lane. The bar re-opens at 3pm on Thursday in time for the Guinness Jazz Festival. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Oyster Tavern, an 18th-century pearl in Cork city’s hospitality scene, is set to reopen today, just in time for this weekend’s Guinness Cork Jazz Festival, after an almost three-year closure.

The historic premises, which dates to 1792 and had ties to some of the city’s merchant princes, will retain its name under new operator Paul Whelan, who has taken a 25-year lease on the premises, at a rent in excess of €100,000 per annum.

Mr Whelan, whose background is in real estate and construction, is reworking the well-known bar into a more traditional Irish pub venue, moving away from the faux-tropical style of décor introduced upstairs by previous owner, publican and restaurateur Alan Clancy. Mr Clancy, of the Nolaclan hospitality group, acquired the three-storey premises in 2017 and invested €1.5m in an upmarket fit-out. However, trade took a hit during the pandemic, and the premises closed its doors at the end of 2023.

Jonathan Keyes and Thomas Harden at The Oyster Tavern at the English Market, Market Lane. The bar re-opens at 3pm on Thursday in time for the Guinness Jazz Festival. Picture: Larry Cummins

The real estate development firm Mr Whelan is linked to, Balford Anner, with an address in New York, also has plans to acquire a pub in the Dublin city suburb of Ranelagh. Mr Whelan said the other main project the firm is involved in in Ireland is a student accommodation development in Dublin 1 and that “all other activity is primarily in New York”. He said the company is currently interested in another NolaClan-linked venue, House Dublin on Lower Leeson St, which is in receivership.

The Waterford man’s venture into the Cork hospitality sector sees him take on a tavern with a long and colourful history and a key part of the city’s social scene for generations. His plan is to convert the ground floor bar into a gastropub that serves food throughout the day, with a carvery offering, using produce from the nearby English Market.

“Long-term our plan after the Jazz and Christmas is to transform the upstairs bar into a late bar only”, he said, with opening hours upstairs restricted to Thurs – Sat, with extended bank holiday hours.

A team of people has been prepping the venue in recent weeks, including artist Meadhbh Ní Churraoidhín (Péinteáilte ag Meadhbh ) who has painted the new Oyster Tavern sign outside the pub and has been busy redecorating whiskey barrels from Midleton Distillery for use as outdoor tables. Carpenter Stephen Ryan worked on the fit out.

Lia Dennehy, commercial divisional director with Savills, said they were pleased to secure an operator “for such an iconic Cork hospitality venue” and that the successful letting of the property would ensure the continuation of a legacy that dates back to the 18th century, “as well as demonstrating ongoing confidence in prime city centre hospitality assets”.

She said the availability of a ready-to-trade premises at The Oyster Tavern was “a significant factor in generating occupier interest and ultimately securing a long-term commitment from the tenant”. The 570 sq m (6,135 sq ft) property has been let on a 25-year lease with a tenant break option at year 10, and a rent in excess of €100,000pa.

Ms Dennehy said the transaction is “particularly notable given the challenges faced by the licensed trade in recent years”.

“Changing consumer habits, evolving social patterns and increasing operating costs have resulted in a more challenging trading environment for hospitality operators. Notwithstanding these headwinds, there remains some demand for well-located licensed premises in established city centre locations that benefit from both shopper and socialiser footfall,” Ms Dennehy said.

Mr Whelan told the Irish Examiner that the late veteran pub auctioneer John P Younge, from Milltown, Dublin, who died recently, had been instrumental in seeing the deal through, along with law firm Lavelle Partners.

Historically renowned for serving fresh oysters and wines to traders, merchants and visitors to the market, The Oyster Tavern has remained a well-known feature of Cork’s social and hospitality landscape for over two centuries. Its origins date back to 1792, when the premises first operated, adjacent to the English Market. Historical records show it was leased to a widow called Stokes on a plot of land in Cenderberry’s Lane, now Market Lane. In the early 20th century, it became known as the Royal Oyster Tavern and Dining room and was a go-to venue for dining, business lunches, and who you might meet. A fire caused serious damage in 1969, but it was reported back in operation in six weeks. The Nicholson family, associated with the Cork wine-importing firm Woodford Bourne, sold the business in 1990. Subsequent changes of ownership and a period of decline followed, and the business ceased trading in 2014 before re-opening under Alan Clancy in 2017, and closing again in 2023.

Its reopening today coincides with the opening of the jazz festival, one of the busiest weekends in the city for the hospitality industry.

Among today’s lineup at The Oyster Tavern are Irish trad-pop/folk-pop band Seo Linn. Saturday night will see fire-breathers on the lane, followed by Aisling Dunne on saxophone with a DJ for the remainder of the evening. The pub will close again after the jazz for a couple of days, before reopening later in the week.