Cork hotel launches newly refurbished and renamed bar

The Imperial Hotel Cork celebrated their newly refurbished and renamed bar, Fitzgerald’s, on Wednesday night at an event attended by the Lord Mayor of Cork, local businesses and members of Cork’s sporting community.

The launch brought to fruition several months of renovation and design works and featured a special guest performance from Eurovision legend Paul Harrington.

The hotel said the extensive refurbishment has transformed the bar while respecting the Imperial’s 200-year history, with a grand piano, high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, marble and glass stained columns and portraits of historical figures connected to the building’s past.

The previously tiered flooring has been levelled, and velvet furnishings and bespoke mosaic tiling are among the additions, as well as a new L-shaped wrap-around bar.

A new menu offering small bites of local produce will launch from summer 2025.

Fitzgerald’s is also tipped to be a hotspot for Jazz revellers when the annual Guinness Cork Jazz Festival rolls around in October.

Speaking about the refurb, Louis Fitzgerald, owner of The Imperial Hotel, said: “The Imperial has always been a place where people come together, and we wanted Fitzgerald’s to reflect that.

“This refurbishment isn’t just about updating the space—it’s about creating an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome, whether they are staying at the hotel and want pre-dinner drinks, are international visitors looking to soak up a Cork welcome, locals seeking a meeting point for casual drinks and light bites on a night out [or] somewhere to celebrate a special occasion or for private events.

“We look forward to giving a Fitzgerald’s welcome!”

The Louis Fitzgerald Group, one of the largest family-run hospitality groups in the country, purchased the iconic 4-star Imperial Hotel last June and have been investing heavily in the hotel, their first venture in the Cork market.

The family business, headed by Louis Fitzgerald and now in its 54th year, has a longstanding track record of acquiring landmark properties.

The group includes the Arlington Hotel, Louis Fitzgerald Hotel and Joels Restaurant, An Poitin Stil, The Stag’s Head, Kehoes Pub, The Quays Bar Galway and most recently, Murphy’s Bar in Galway.