A Cork Walk December 2020

A Cork Walk December 2020

Walk from Mayfield, via St Luke's, to Patrick's Bridge, and return 3rd December 2020

Refurbished Harley Street (at eastern side of Metropole) hosted its first Friday market (04.12.2020)

The Trinity Presbyterian Church (1861), in a prominent location at junction of
Summerhill North and MacCurtain Street

The Hut, just off Summerhill North and the headquarters of the local boy scouts, looks a bit flimsy
compared to two of the new high-rise buildings in the area by the rail station.

One of the older buildings between Summerhill North and Wellington Road.

The brand new Dean Hotel (doe to open next week) alongside the railway station.

Kent Station (1893), Lower Glanmire Road, Cork

The former church of St Luke's (1878) is now a concert venue.
Lots of overhead wires at this junction.

 

The Dean's in Town. Doors open December 10th

The Dean Cork. (CGI image).

 

The Dean's in Town. Doors open December 10th

Plan your ultimate festive escape with a stay at The Dean Cork 

Relax and unwind in style in the Rebel County this December  

 

The countdown is on to the opening of The Dean Cork, the hottest new hotel located in the Rebel County’s Horgan’s Quay. With its doors swinging open from December 10^th - just in time for Christmas, the team has been busy in the background ensuring that everything is ready, set, go before opening day approaches. 

 

2020 has been an unusual year for everyone, and we all deserve to enjoy a magical Christmas to end the year on a positive note. With the end of lockdown in sight, it’s high time to start planning a festive breakaway and some (safe) socialising. Whether it be a bestie’s breakaway, an overdue date night or simply a stylish way to use up all that accrued annual leave, The Dean Cork have a selection of quirky offers available, giving you the perfect excuse for a little festive stay-cay in Cork’s newest hotel. 

 

Ease into the Christmas shopping with the mid-week ‘Wine, Dine, Shop, Sleep’ package, or just get away from it all with the ‘Treat Yourself One Night Escape’. With a three course dinner included in the package, you will be one of the first to enjoy the rooftop views from Sophie’s Restaurant. 

Not only that, but the hotel has also just launched a limited time ‘Black Friday’ offer with 25% off best available rates for stays until 31^st March 2021, only available until Monday 30^th November.  

 

For the mná who love to celebrate Women’s Little Christmas, the Dean’s ‘Who Run the World? Girls’ package is not to be missed; the ultimate girls night in one of hotels Suites or the one of a kind Penthouse.  

 

Speaking in advance of their official opening, General Manager at The Dean Cork, Shane Fitzpatrick said:  

 

“We are so excited to throw open the doors to The Dean this December and welcome guests to our brand new hotel. We’re here to give people a much needed escape from the mad world we’re living in, a chance to let their hair down, enjoy delicious food, sip on a cocktail and enjoy the views from Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant, or take a break in one of our fabulous bedrooms and suites, all in a safe and controlled environment.”  

 

Bookings are now available for The Dean Cork from December 10th and all of the below packages are available on www.thedean.ie  

Very convenient if you arrive by train.

 

‘Wine, Dine, Shop, Sleep’   
The Dean Cork are making Christmas shopping easy this winter. Base yourself at The Dean and make an occasion of it. 

Book a stay between Monday and Thursday this winter and you will enjoy: 

·       Super early check-in from 10 AM. 

·       Winter drink on arrival to warm you up, ready to hit the town for some retail therapy. 

·       A bottle of wine and a delicious cheese and charcuterie board will be waiting for you on your return, so put the feet up for an evening of chilling in our lobby, or your room. 

·       The next day enjoy a cooked to order brekkie whilst taking in the views at Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant. 

·       Lazy 2pm late check out. 

‘Treat Yourself’ Package  

Experience the best of Cork’s newest and coolest hotel with this one-night escape, perfect to treat yourself or someone else! You will enjoy an overnight stay in a spacious Super Room and enjoy some super sweet add-ons. 

 

This Package Includes: 

·       1 Night in a Super Room. 

·       Welcome Drink on Arrival. 

·       3 Course Dinner in Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant. 

·       A treat package delivered to your room so you can Netflix & Chill. 

·       Breakfast in Bed or in the Rooftop. 

Black Friday Package  

25% off Best Available Rate (stays from 1st December 2020 - 31st March 2021). 

Sale available until Monday 30th November for direct bookings only www.thedean.ie.  

 

‘Who Run the World? Girls!’ Package  

January 6th is Nollaig na mBan, and a chance to celebrate all those wonderful ladies in your life. Grab the girls together for the ultimate ladies’ night away at the Dean Cork with this one night package, available to book from 6th – 11th January. 

 

Enjoy priority early check in to your suite or The Dean Penthouse. Lap up the luxury with bubbly and canapés on arrival and get your party started with a selection of ‘Girl Power’ vinyl to sing along too in your suite. Toast to being awesome with signature cocktails served to your room. You will wake up like a queen and enjoy the views of Dublin with a delicious Irish breakfast in Sophie’s Rooftop. 

 

This Package includes: 

 

·       1 Night Stay in a Suite or Penthouse (4 Guests Sharing). 

·       Priority Early Check-In. / Lazy Late checkout (1 PM). 

·       Bubbly and Canapés on Arrival served to your room. 

·       Fluffy Bathrobes and Slippers and Luxury Bath products in the room. 

·       Selection of ‘Girl Power’ vinyl to sing along too. 

·       Signature Cocktails served to your room. 

·       Full Cooked to Order Breakfast Each Day in Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant. 

 

Hello Cork – Opening Offer 

Say Hello to Ireland’s real capital from The Dean Cork, a brand-new slice of boutique bliss in the heart of the city. 

 

Here’s the scoop. Stay with The Dean Cork for one night from 1st December – 28th February, and they will give you a €25.00 voucher to spend as you wish. Stay two nights, make that a €50.00 voucher from them. 

 

This website exclusive offer includes: 

·       1-night stay gets €25.00 Voucher. 

·       2 + nights’ stay gets €50.00 Voucher. 

·       Cooked to order breakfast both mornings from Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant. 

·       Welcome cocktail on arrival 

·       Pay on arrival – flexible 24 hours prior to arrival cancellation 

 

The Dean Swings into Cork 

Swing into some southern charm with this delightful two-night deal in Cork’s brand-new hotspot. 

Eat, drink and be merry with this website exclusive deal, giving you the chance to experience everything The Dean Cork has to offer. 

 

This two-night package includes: 

·       3 Course Dinner in Sophie’s Rooftop Restaurant with 1 Bottle of House Wine (on an evening of choice). 

·       Cooked to Order Breakfast Each Morning. 

·       Early Check In (1 PM) & lazy check out (1pm). 

·       Min 2 nights stay from December – February. 

·       Winter Drink on Arrival. 

·       Pay on arrival. Flexible 24 hours prior to arrival cancellation. 

Based on 2 guests staying for 2 nights from December 2020 – February 2021. Dinner must be booked in advance. 

 

We’re not done just yet - If it’s Christmas gift ideas you’re seeking, The Dean Cork can lend a hand there too. Give the gift of time well spent with the Press Up Gift Card. Valid in over 65 restaurants, hotels, bars and cinemas across Ireland, it is the perfect gift for any food, wine or travel lover. Available to purchase at The Dean Cork or online at pressup.ie  

 

For a full listing of all Press Up venues and more information where you can use the Press Up Gift Card, please visit www.pressup.ie  

 

Bookings are now available for The Dean Cork from December 10th – visit www.thedean.ie for booking details, or email corkres@thedean.ie for rooms / weddings and events.  For Sophie’s Restaurant bookings, email bookcork@sophies.ie  

press release

 

New Buildings Close To Completion Near Cork Railway Station

 New Buildings Close To Completion Near Cork Railway Station

Horgan's Quay, facing river

Dean Hotel, alongside railway station

Penrose Dock

One of the old ones at the other side of the river

Horgan's Quay, facing towards city centre

Penrose Dock

The Dean

The Dean, from the station

Horgan's Quay, facing the harbour

Cafe at Penrose Dock

Penrose Dock, from Lower Glanmire Road, above and below

Lower Glanmire Road, the Railway station, with the harbour in the distance

Some of the new buildings (on right), taken from Lower Glanmire Rail Overpass.

Springboard into Summer at the Kingsley Hotel

Springboard into Summer at the Kingsley Hotel

Pork Belly

Springboard, the relaxed bistro in the Kingsley Hotel, the one with the large windows that look out at the River Lee, has quite a lovely summertime menu as I enjoyably discovered last week. 

We arrived just as the only shower of the day finished up; three courses later we were singing the praises of the restaurant, named for a prominent part of the old Lee Baths that once stood here, the only downside being the fact that the sun never re-appeared to enhance the view of the river, the strollers, the runners and the kayakers.

View. Wine. Prosciutto & Ricotta starter

And it wasn’t just the food that was good. So too was the comfort here and, more importantly, the service: smooth, friendly, helpful, without ever being overly attentive. The menu is quite extensive, takes a bit of reading! Starters include everything from Olives to Chowder to a grilled mojo chicken Cobb salad, about a dozen items in all.  The mains is even more expansive, featuring beef, chicken, and pork dishes, a Thai curry, vegetarian options, even a Pizza list.

No shortage of desserts either and there’s also an Irish Farmhouse Cheeseboard. Plenty of wines to choose from as well; our pick was the aromatic and crisp Markus Huber Grüner Veltliner. And, of course, there are lots of whiskies and gins and other spirits and, if you’re driving, they can offer you a choice of non-alcoholic cocktails. Good to see the local Cotton Ball beers also well represented on the list.

Fish Cakes special

So, with the wine sorted and the breads enjoyed, we made a start, an excellent one. Lots of local produce here and CL’s salad included Toonsbridge Ricotta, with Prosciutto, fig and honey crostini and baby leaves. She enjoyed that. My soya glazed pork belly with black pudding bon bon, cos leaves, mango relish was another beauty. Both, by the way, were quite substantial yet two empty plates went back.

You don’t get trout out that often so I was delighted to try the Pan-seared fillet of sea-trout with smoked haddock, pea and saffron risotto, pine nut pesto, delighted that I did as it was a superb combination, appetising on the plate and totally pleasing on the palate.

CL had spotted the special and, with some encouragement from our server, choose the Pan-fried Fish Cakes with dressed summer salad, sweet potato fries, garlic and saffron aioli, lemon mayo. All the salads here by the way were well dressed. Again the dish was superb, full of flavour and textures. Another clean plate, another vote of confidence in the kitchen team.

Trout

The dessert menu was laced with temptation and we were pointed in the direction of the Glazed chocolate and caramel dome. But, after two excellent courses, space was limited and we opted for the lighter Lemon meringue éclair (choux pastry éclair, lemon curd filling, Italian meringue, mango sorbet) to share. It was served in the “neutral territory” on the table and provided a very pleasant end to a very pleasant evening as guests of the restaurant. 

Dessert

Check out the full Springboard menu here. 

The Springboard details   

OPENING TIMES

• Monday - Friday 17.00 - 21.00
• Saturday & Sunday 12.30 - 21.00 (Sunday lunch from 12.30 - 17.00)

CONTACT INFORMATION

• T: +(0818) 277 458
• E: info@thekingsley.ie

‘Best Dining Experience' at Cahernane House Hotel

Cahernane House Hotel in Condé Nast Top 3  

‘Best Dining Experience' 

Eric Kavanagh

Cahernane House Hotel in Killarney has been shortlisted in the Condé Nast top 3 hotels for ‘Best Dining Experience UK & Ireland’.  Condé Nast is widely regarded as the ultimate globetrotting bible for even the most discerning traveller and features luxury hotels, restaurants and destinations from all corners of the world.  

The leading lifestyle travel magazine will hold its ‘Annual Awards for Excellence Dinner’ at the glitzy May Fair Hotel in London on Monday, 5^th of November when the overall winner will be announced. Cahernane House Hotel, General Manager, Emer Corridan will attend the black-tie awards ceremony to represent the property.

Emer has been working at Cahernane House Hotel since 2016, managing the hotel and ensuring that each guest that walks through the door has a relaxing and memorable stay as well as leading her team to a four star standard and beyond. Emer as an individual can best be described the life of Cahernane with her passion shining through in her everyday contact with both the team and guests.

Cork native Eric Kavanagh is the Executive Chef at Cahernane House and leads a talented team in the kitchen at the distinguished Herbert Restaurant in the hotel. Before starting at Cahernane House Hotel in 2017, Eric worked at Longueville House in Mallow, Marlfield House in Gorey and Sheen Falls in Kenmare. He also spent some time abroad in Canada and New Zealand where he was inspired by the many international chefs he worked with.

Crab, cucumber

The key ingredient behind any good meal is the timing however, and Eric is keen to point out that he bases his menu and technique on what time of the year it is. 

“It’s a seasonal thing,” he said. “You want to make the food so it’s good, but that it also shows technique and it’s not over the top and there for the sake of it. You see what’s around, what is in season, and you put it together and you make sure that there is some sense of technique to it to. From there you test it, and if it works you use it, if it doesn’t work you keep adjusting it until you’re happy with it really.”

Cured Halibut, carrot, finger lime, Bergamot 

Cod

The Herbert Restaurant has two AA Rosettes and serves fabulous seasonal dishes prepared with flair and style by a hand that understands great technique with minimal fuss. We were on the Table d'Hote €55.00 menu and started off with an excellent glass of Prosecco. Delicious breads, including a treacle version and an onion one, followed as did an amuse bouche.

Raspberry mousse

No shortage of interesting starters on the menu and mine was a gorgeous Wild Boar and Foie Gras while CL was thrilled with her Castletownbere Crab wrapped in cucumber. A couple of palate cleansing "Middle Courses" followed, Cured Halibut for me, Clementine Sorbet for her. Two beautiful dishes, small but enough for the chef to again display his skills.

As he did again with the mains. Hard to top the Slow Cooked Guinea Fowl, with Mead and Soy, Pistachio, Pumpkin, Black Trompette Mushrooms, and Baby Turnip. CL enjoyed a beautiful fish dish: Confit Cod and smoked Cod Belly, with Seaweed Pastille, Cauliflower, Cabbage and Apple. Really high class stuff and all washed down with a PradoRey Verdejo, aromatic, elegant and expressive.

Figs

And did we have dessert? Of course. We had a couple of beauties, not from the usual list of suspects at all. CL was delighted with her pick: Iced Raspberry Mousse (Lemongrass gel, crème fraiche and coco snap) while I indulged my sweet tooth with Sauternes Infused Figs and Pressed Kefir (fig compote and wild blackberries). Quite a finalé!

See second post from this visit, details on room, bar and breakfast, here.

Fancy a meal there? Why not check out their Autumn Escape Break (From €94.50 per person sharing) includes one night’s accommodation with breakfast and dinner in the fine dining, critically acclaimed 2 AA Rosette Herbert Restaurant (you can also enjoy a complimentary glass of prosecco when you book on www.cahernane.com). This lovely package also includes a complimentary art and history tour which runs each evening from 6.00pm. For more information on Cahernane House Hotel or to make a booking see www.cahernane.com or call (064) 663 1895.