Streets ahead with winter dining
New bespoke weatherproofing infrastructure will be installed at several city centre streets after a funding was recently granted.
The infrastructure including parasols, awnings, windbreaks, heaters, festoon lighting and purpose-built planters are to be installed at Princes Street, Caroline Street, Pembroke St, Beasley Street and Union Quay by early November. This will enable winter and summer outdoor dining.
Architects were engaged to design streetscapes, providing a unique identity to each street and an improved city centre experience. The architects worked closely with Cork City Council and the traders on each street to develop their designs.
Princes Street, Beasley Street, Pembroke Street and Union Quay are designed by Cork-based Meitheal Architects while local architectural firm, Carr, Cotter and Naessens designed the Caroline Street scheme. The infrastructure is designed to last for a minimum of five years.
Some of the bespoke infrastructure is being locally fabricated by Cork based businesses.
Lord Mayor of Cork Cllr Colm Kelleher welcomed €1.3 million in funding under Fáilte Ireland’s Weatherproofing & Dining Enhancement Scheme.
He said: “These schemes will bolster the city’s growing reputation as a destination for outdoor dining and hospitality and improve the vibrancy of the city centre experience for residents and tourists.
“They further demonstrate how Cork City Council is helping transform how people enjoy the public realm and builds on the momentum generated by the Reimagining Cork City programme namely the pedestrianisation of city centre streets, the installation of eight parklets across the wider city, the greening of the city centre, accelerated cycle lane delivery and parking promotions.”
Publican Benny Mc Cabe, who owns a bar on Union Quay, Margaret Kenneally, owner of the Oliver Plunkett Bar and Conrad Howard, who owns Market Lane on Oliver Plunkett Street/Beasley Street, welcomed the funding announcement by Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Catherine Martin.
The works
Princes Street - Install heaters and lighting to the 17 parasols already placed on the street.
Beasley Street - Install larger awnings, festoon lighting along the centre of the street, giant umbrellas and parasols and resurface street parallel to the original cobblestone pathway.
Union Quay - Install 16 parasols similar to those on Princes Street. Each premises to have a unique colour parasol and windbreaker. Festoon lighting above the parasols. Improved pedestrian access, inclusive of wheelchair access and improved resurfaced road surface.
Caroline Street - Awnings, parasols, festoon lighting, mature trees, bespoke windbreak/ planter units with age friendly seating.
Pembroke St - Install awnings, parasols, and festoon lighting.