- Cork’s Metropole Hotel launches The MET bar, restaurant and tea rooms
- Opening is the latest part of a €2.5m refurbishment at the 108-bedroom hotel.
- Parent group Trigon has 334 guest rooms across three Cork hotels
Cork’s Metropole Hotel was legendary for decades as Ireland’s best-known alcohol-free hotel. The hotel, which opened in 1897, was run for decades by the Musgrave family, who believed that alcohol had no place in a hotel, and advertised the Cork City establishment as “Ireland’s Finest Unlicensed Hotel”.
Local barmen were, however, allowed to serve alcohol, subject to a corkage fee by the hotel – for events such as weddings. However, the ban, which was costing the hotel in lost revenue, was ended in 1956 with its first licence.
Lisa Cannon, broadcaster; Aaron Mansworth, Group General Manager, Trigon Hotels; Roger Russell, General Manager Metropole Hotel, and Cllr. Mick Finn, Lord Mayor of Cork.
Photo: Brian Lougheed
Sixty years on and the hotel, which is now owned by Trigon Hotel Group, has launched The MET – the hotel’s new bar, restaurant and tea room. It is the latest part of a €2.5m refurbishment this year which also included the refurbishment of all 108 bedrooms. Five new jobs have been created as a result of the investment.
This launch comes as the hotel is gearing up for the annual Cork Jazz Festival. Now in its 41st year, the festival was the brainchild of former Deputy General Manager Jim Mountjoy.
The Metropole Hotel is part of the Trigon Hotel Group, which has 334 guest rooms across three hotels in Cork. The group comprises of the Cork International Hotel, The Metropole Hotel and the Cork Airport Hotel.
Aaron Mansworth, Group General Manager at Trigon Hotels said: “We are seeing very strong visitor numbers to Cork and we had a good summer across our three hotels. There is a real ‘Cork feel’ to the new menus at the MET with a number of signature dishes included on the menus.”
Roger Russell, General Manager at The Metropole Hotel said: “The Metropole is truly the heart and soul of the Jazz Festival with it all starting here. We have four nights of jam packed jazz entertainment at the hotel from Friday 26th to Monday 29th October.”
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