Former Cork city bank brought back to life as new café to open
The former Ulster Bank in Winthrop St. Cork. Picture: Des Barry
A former bank in the Cork’s city centre has been given new life as a new lunch spot to open on Winthrop St.
Sprout & Co are a healthy eating brand run by brothers Jack and Theo Kirwan from Kildare, serving signature salads, bowls and wraps.
The pair opened their first location in Dublin’s Dawson St and has since expanded to seven locations in the capital and one in Kildare Village.
This new Cork store in the former Ulster Bank which has remained closed for a number of years, marks the company’s first location outside Dublin and Kildare.
The brands origins can be traced back to Cork when a freshly-picked, organic tomato at Ballymaloe Cookery School sparked the idea in co-owner Jack for a locally-sourced, seasonal, healthy food business.
In 2018, the brothers purchased a 30-acre farm in Kildare after realising their dream of providing home grown, Irish organic produce for their restaurants.
The healthy eatery was first granted permission for the two story café in January of this year.
In its application, Sprout & Co said it is a perfect fit for the pedestrianised Winthrop Street, a "busy, vibrant street in the heart of the Cork City Centre and comprises of a variety of business including retail, bars, restaurants, cafes hairdressers and other."
Speaking ahead of the opening of their first Cork city store, the owners took to social media to say: “10 years ago we opened the first Sprout on Dawson St so it feels fitting that on the same week we are starting from scratch in a new city.”
“We’ve spent the last year converting an old bank into a restaurant and are officially opening next Monday 17.”
“We’ve some soft launch days later this week to test out the restaurant so please stay tuned for what’s to come.
The new café has brought 15 new jobs to the city centre
Sprout & Co, Winthrop will officially open on Monday, November 17 from 11am to 9pm.
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