Cork's Coffeequip to go .... with a guide price of €395,000

Lancaster Quay premises is on the market 

Coffeequip premises on Lancaster Quay, Cork.

Generations of “Pres boys” will remember this premises as a former sweet shop, run by a lady called Ms Campbell on Lancaster Quay, but since about the start of the millennium, it’s been better known as Coffeequip, suppliers of artisan coffee products to local companies.

Now, that highly recognisable building on Western Road is up for sale, following the retirement in March 2025 of owner John O’Riordan, who had operated from the premises since 1987.

Having started out as Modern Catering Systems, suppliers of equipment to commercial kitchens, he and his wife Teresa pivoted to coffee products around 2000.

The couple sold the business in 2025 to Niamh and Maurice Nelligan from Vicarstown, and they moved Coffeequip online. The premises itself is up for sale.

The three-storey, mixed-use terraced property — which the O’Riordans bought in the 1980s — includes a ground floor commercial unit with rear yard and first and second floor overhead residential accommodation.

As the residential element has been vacant for more than two years, new owners could apply for the vacant property grant to help fund upgrades. A potential owner/occupier, looking to run a business on the ground floor and live overhead, could apply for the living over the shop tax relief scheme.

Come next March, the commercial element will also be vacant two years, should new owners look at converting the ground floor into additional residential accommodation.

Agents Cohalan Downing — who sold the 2,015 sq ft premises to the O’Riordans first day — are back doing the honours and are guiding the high profile property at €395,000.

Agent Rob Coughlan described the south-facing property, by the intersection of Western Rd and Mardyke St, as “a substantial and well positioned mid-terrace, mixed use building”, noting that there are two pedestrian access doors fronting Lancaster Quay, one leading to the commercial unit and the other to the overhead accommodation.

While the entire building — retaining a wealth of original features such as fireplaces and timber flooring — would benefit from some modernisation and refurbishment, Mr Coughlan said the location was “enviable”, in “an established commercial and residential location within a few minutes walk of the Tyndall National Institute, Cork city centre, the River Lee Hotel, the Mercy University Hospital, and Fitzgerald’s Park”.

Moreover, the main UCC campus is situated approximately 800m to the west, with about 27,000 students for the current academic year. Passing foot traffic is significant.

Coffeequip, 2 Lancaster Quay, Cork

Mr Coughlan said he “wouldn’t be surprised if a buyer considered converting the entire building to residential”, given the demand for accommodation in the area.

“There’s ample scope and potential to asset manage and refurbish to create a multi-occupancy investment, or for alternative uses, subject to planning permission,” the agent said.

It would suit an owner/occupier, an investor, or a developer “seeking a well-located mixed-use property in the heart of Cork City”, Mr Coughlan said.

• Details: E: [e-mail], T: 0214277717.