Plans for new bowling, darts, karaoke and restaurant complex in city centre

A new Cork city centre leisure and entertainment complex, contingent on clearance from planners, will include bowling lanes, pool tables, darts, karaoke, and a games arcade, as well as serving food. The number of jobs it will create is estimated at 25-30.

In its planning application to Cork City Council, JCD was keen to point out that the proposed development, at Half Moon St, “does not include any form of gambling or betting”.

A similar operation in the city, Leisureplex, which had operated at the junction of MacCurtain St and Brian Boru St since the 1980s, closed at the end of last year, after the site was acquired by UK hospitality outfit the Whitbread group.

The group was cleared to build a 174-bed Premier Inn on the site late last year, with work to demolish the complex expected to get under way early next year, subject to agreeing a traffic management plan with Cork City Council.

JCD said its proposals would “facilitate the provision of a new bowling alley leisure complex in Cork city centre”. The only similar complex currently in the city is the Mardyke Entertainment Complex.

Planning documents prepared by town planners Coakley O’Neill on behalf of JCD in relation to the Half Moon St proposal reveal the likely occupier is Lane7, an established UK leisure and entertainment brand, that already operates out of two Dublin premises, including a city centre basement venue on Clarendon Row.

Lane7 operates at 25 locations, mainly across the UK. JCD told the Irish Examiner that they were “in detailed discussions with a number of international operators to occupy the premises”.

The venue will operate seven days a week from 11am-12.30am, with security staff “subject to it being required at specific times”. An alcohol licence “is currently being procured”.

The riverside basement site has been assessed for flood risk by MMOS Consulting Civil and Structural Engineers, and while they concluded that it is at risk of fluvial and tidal flooding, risk can be “managed and mitigated to acceptable levels” with the introduction of flood barriers/gates.

Cork City Council is due to decide on the application by November 17.