Cork restaurant to close after 16 years 

A POPULAR Cork restaurant has announced that it is to close its doors next month. 

In an email to customers, the restaurant’s owners announced on Tuesday afternoon that, after 16 years, the restaurant is to close. 

“We are emailing to inform you, with very mixed emotions, that our time in Sage Restaurant Midleton is coming to a close,” Kevin and Réidín Aherne said, describing as an “emotional rollercoaster” their decision to move on.

“We both feel the time is right for us to re adjust in what's been a truly unforgettable period in our lives, one which we have loved sharing with everyone who has walked through our doors during the years.” 

Mr and Ms Aherne had been trading as Sage Restaurant in Midleton for the past 16 years, they said.

Expressing gratitude to their local community, friends, staff and family, the couple said they planned to change their business plans.

“Sage will continue (albeit) in a new direction. Sage Products will be keeping us busy as we develop the Sage brand with new developments on the horizon.” 

They announced that Sunday, July 28, will be their last day operating as a restaurant, adding that anyone with existing vouchers should make a booking before that date.

They said that if owners of vouchers were unable to secure a reservation or to spend their vouchers, “we will be offering Sage products to substitute”.

In a post on social media, Mr Aherne said they both had felt it was the right time to close: “We’ve spent the last 16-and-a-half years here, we’ve loved it and we’ve had the best adventure we ever could have possibly imagined.”

Mr Aherne said that covid had led them to expand into a range of ready meals, and then into a supermarket brand, with Sage products currently expanding.

He said the restaurant had been badly hit by last October’s flooding, saying “that was a bit of a battle”, but it had survived.

“We’re at a place now where the restaurant is back singing again, it’s in a good place so we feel this is the best time for us to move on and close this chapter and open the next one,” Mr Aherne said. “While we’re both absolutely heartbroken and very sad, we’re extremely happy with what we’ve had here over the past 16 years.”

In September of last year, Mr Aherne questioned why the Government had decided not to extend the special VAT rate of 9%.

“There is no restaurant looking for a handout. A helping hand and a handout are two different things but it is particularly bad timing going into off-season and in general because costs of electricity are going to go up as well in the winter.

“We are going to see closures, and we are going to see job losses,” Mr Aherne said.

“It’s also important that when people think of restaurants, and of eating out and of hotels, it’s supposed to be a joyous occasion, and people should not feel as if they’re obligated to feel sorry for a restaurant because their prices have gone up or they’re being charged more in VAT.” 

Sage Restaurant was asked for comment.