Leading Cork publican tells of plans to bring top quality gastropub to southside
17:23, 10 Jan 2026Updated 17:24, 10 Jan 2026
Changes coming to the Wilton(Image: Google)
Cork can look forward to one of its well-known pubs reopening in the coming months with a brand new look after a €1m refurb.
The Wilton, opposite Cork University Hospital, has been bought by Paul Montgomery, owner of Clancy’s – who has big plans to shake up the 36-year-old venue while still respecting all the features that have made it a favourite among locals. Paul told CorkBeo that he will take over the pub on Monday, January 12 – and will immediately kick off a huge makeover.
But punters don’t need to worry, as the Wilton will be back in business by March 12, in time for St Patrick’s Day weekend celebrations. Paul told CorkBeo: “I’ve been in this business for 30 years, and Patrick’s Day is a significant time.”
As well as being one of Cork’s most renowned watering holes, the Wilton is popular with diners for its carvery offering – something Paul pledges to keep going: “We’ll definitely enhance and protect the carvery experiences. It’s a staple.”
As for what pubgoers can expect from the revamped Wilton, Paul says that they’ll be replacing the interior in a “complete change,” bringing a cosy, “old world” feel to the bar beside Wilton Shopping Centre, with leather upholstery and warm wooden surfaces: “It’ll be a drinking bar with a stage, live music and lots of entertainment, with a different dynamic at night. But most of all it will be a destination pub.”
The new Wilton promises to be a cosy spot, where “when you walk in, you’ll want to stay for the evening.” And as well as a bar of all the old booze favourites, Paul has been keeping on eye on changing trends – and plans to offer a range of non-alcoholic products. The revamp is also expect to double jobs at the venue, increasing to 100 after the regeneration.
It’s been a busy year for Paul and his team. Last summer, Clancy’s on Princes Street underwent a whopping €500k refurbishment as part of a new partnership with Guinness (Diageo), giving the pub a major facelift and creating new jobs in the process. The gastropub’s ground-floor bar on the Marlboro Street side was reimagined as ‘Arthur’s Bar’ and was launched as a “new experience for Guinness lovers” thanks to its cool features – such as the ability to pour-your-own-pint, a ‘Stoutie’ machine where you can print out your own image on the head of a pint and a food pairing experience.
Of Arthur’s Bar, Paul explained: “We’ve taken Clancy’s long legacy and built something exciting and future-facing.”