A shopper’s haven of repose
Why not pick up some vermouth from Venetia Island or an almond croissant that's the best this side of the Seine whilst you muse over a garden furniture purchase? You can do it all under one roof at Fota Retail Village.
When all of us dedicated home interiors enthusiasts go on a shopping mission we can be a choosy bunch. Not only do we want quality furnishings and accessories with style and longevity, at this time of year we’re also looking to get the garden, patio or apartment balcony planted up, furnished and accessorised.
Achieving it demands accessible parking for filling up the boot and somewhere relaxing for essential coffee pitstops and lunch or brunch, all under one roof.
As an interiors writer and someone who loves nothing more than a session of playing house, I know the perfect place virtually on my doorstep at east Cork’s Fota Retail Village, situated off the N25 between Carrigtwohill and Glounthaune.
It’s a haven for indulging in slow, relaxed shopping, from getting a home interiors fix at Meadows & Byrne, to being lured by the aroma of freshly ground coffee and baking into the delectable Bakestone Café & Pantry, before finishing off the shopping expedition with a meander into an oasis of plant life from Botanic Home & Garden Centre.
This time of year I’d highly recommend asking Bakestone Café for an outdoor table under the rain-proof canopy to sit beside lush plants in the garden centre. It’s a restful spot to muse on a purchase of hydrangeas or hellebores, or the difficult decision of whether to choose Meadows & Byrne’s Tola tableware with its touches of orange and blue, or Portuguese green cabbage leaf-shaped plates to grace an outdoor tablescape this season.
Summer has truly arrived at Fota Retail Village but in a way that mitigates our ongoing unpredictable weather.
Helen Coughlan, Meadows & Byrne’s retail director tells me; “We’ve introduced a complete collection of garden furniture, dining sets, chairs and sofas to accommodate any size of patio. It’s a natural look with a hint of warmth and depth to blend rather than intrude. We don’t want to take from the garden so it’s tonal, natural, with faux rattan, and aluminium frames which don’t rust.” This is a plus for anyone concerned with the impact of a rainy Irish summer on what can be a big-ticket purchase.
“We give consideration to how to dine around the Irish weather and to the finer details,” Helen explains, “so lots of cushions and throws for comfort and warmth, and battery-operated candles. We need to think too about the practicalities of dining outside so we have melamine picnicware which is great for the garden, great for picnics or on the beach, and it looks like bone china."
Everything is styled to perfection and clearly visible and accessible in the clever repurposing of the all-glass building, originally a car showroom which operated until 2011. The only evidence of this past life is the fine volume of space and the lightsome interior.
Helen is clearly enthusiastic for what the shared space offers and considers it a boon for shoppers, encouraging them to shop at their leisure and take everything in.
“Allocate time, come for the experience,” she says, “and come hungry to enjoy the café. East Cork is known for its food and the café sits right into that. Their almond croissant is the best this side of the Seine.”
I might argue the equal merits of Bakestone’s yummy pain perdu with poached pear, salted caramel and vanilla mascarpone, washed down with a fine Badger & Dodo coffee, just one of the yummy brunch options and specials co-owners Joe and Maura Carey serve up.
“Brunch is the new night out,” Joe tells me, and he’s not wrong as I observed one morning recently when customers were tucking into generous portions unhurried, while those in the swift-moving queue were eyeing up the menu, trying to decide between eggs Benedict, Florentine or royale, and seasonal lunch dishes. Others in need of coffee and cake pressed their noses against glass cases filled with mouth-watering pastries and even chunks of bread and butter pudding laced with vanilla.
“The lovely thing is it’s a centre of community, from tiny tots to grandmas and granddads,” Joe says. “It’s a weekend destination when people have lots of time to spend together over beautiful food. The space has ambience and light, it’s friendly and inviting, and space for a buggy and a wheelchair.”
For customers on the go, Joe and Maura set up Bakestone Pantry which Joe calls, “a mom and pop shop”. It’s filled with a mix of Bakestone’s own products and those of artisan Irish producers, including wine made in Wicklow and vermouth from Valentia Island; relishes and biscuits and locally roasted coffee options. You can even assemble a hamper as a foodie gift.
“The café is a lovely bed-fellow to choosing for the home,” Joe says. “You get up satisfied and then do your shopping. It’s very chill and relaxed. City shopping can be hardcore. We offer a peaceful, relaxing and restorative experience, seven days a week from 9am-5.30pm, 10am on Sundays.”
Getting there is super-easy with plenty of free parking right outside the door. Western suburbanites just need to make a swift journey on the N40 and N25 for what Joe says is an 18 minute drive from Ballincollig.
Cyclists can get their exercise in with a pedal from Glanmire to Carrigtwohill on the greenway, but are well advised to bring panniers for transporting irresistible purchases home.
The prospect of making it even more accessible was announced last week with extra stations to be added to the Cork to Midleton railway, meaning shoppers will be able to upscale their sustainability efforts and take the train, alighting at the soon-to-be Carrigtwohill West station by the end of 2026.
Just don’t forget your bags for life! You’ll need them.
