Popular coffee business to open new cafe in Cork

A new Soma cafe is set to open in Wilton following change of use permission from a hair and beauty salon to a cafe being granted by Cork City Council. 

The popular coffee business currently has four locations - their original cafe at 23 Tuckey St, one at 8b Anglesea St, one in The Black Market on Monahan Rd and one on the Well Rd in Douglas.

The new cafe will be located at Cardinal Way in Wilton, close to the shopping centre.

The site is between Subway and Wilton Willow restaurant, and consists of a ground floor and basement. 

There is communal parking to the front and side of the site which is shared amongst the adjoining businesses, with additional parking available at the shopping centre, the planner noted in their report.

One third party objection was made by the owner of a nearby pub, who said: “Due to the location of the premises adjacent to the entrances of the Wilton Shopping Centre and Cork University Hospital the proposed change of use to a cafe will further intensify the current traffic and parking problems in the immediate area.” 

However, a Traffic Regulation and Road Safety Report raised no objections from a parking, roads and traffic safety perspective.

Planning was granted subject to conditions including that full details of the days and hours of operation of the cafe and signage and illumination planned must be submitted to and agreed in writing with the planning authority prior to the commencement of development.