Great boost for city as the Merchant – formerly Electric – opens in two weeks

17:20, 07 May 2026Updated 17:24, 07 May 2026

Electric on the South Mall – soon to reopen as The Merchant

In a huge boost for nightlife in Cork city, the former Electric bar is set to reopen in the coming weeks in a new guise.

The venue on South Mall closed in 2023, marking a sad loss for the city centre as it fell victim to the severe challenges for the sector after the pandemic. However, the challenge of revamping the prominent bar space was taken on by the team behind Tradehouse Central, The Castle Glanmire, Mabel Lane and JJ Coppingers – and now the South Mall bar is set to reopen as The Merchant on Thursday, May 21.

The Emporium hospitality group, which has overseen the refurb, explained: “Cork has a new bar. The Merchant opens on South Mall on 21st May – a seven-figure transformation of a 1930s art deco building on the river.” The opening of The Merchant will also create 30 new jobs.

As for what you can expect from the Merchant, the team promises: “No food. Live entertainment seven nights a week across two stages. 380 capacity across the ground floor and The Beamish Room upstairs, named after Cork merchant and brewer William Beamish.”

Ronan Murphy, publican and managing partner of the Emporium Company, at the entrance to The Merchant, the new entertainment-led public house opening on South Mall, Cork on Thursday 21st May 2026.(Image: Peter P Photos)

The bar’s new name is a nod to Cork’s original merchant princes – the men who ran the Cork Butter Market in Shandon, the largest in the world, and “built this city on wit, whiskey and a refusal to play by the rules.”

Ronan Murphy, co-founder of Emporium, said: era. “The city is experiencing a rebirth. Cork City Council is making real investment in the late-night economy. There are more Gardaí on the streets, and it’s having a positive impact. The Living City Initiative will significantly increase the city-centre population over the coming years.

“Cork’s tourism sector is strong and getting stronger, with new hotel beds coming on stream and a food and drinks culture that is genuinely world-class. We saw an opportunity to be part of that – to add a serious entertainment-led public house to the city that does what it does brilliantly.”

He added: ““The pub culture in the city is in a great place at the moment. The venues that are putting real effort into atmosphere, hospitality, and entertainment are doing well, and customers can see that. We want to become part of that story.””