An exciting new development for Paul Street

12:17, 18 Jul 2026Updated 12:44, 18 Jul 2026

The Fifth Quarter, formerly known as the Paul Street Shopping Centre

Cork city centre could soon get a new food court, with the owners of the Fifth Quarter Shopping Centre on Paul Street seeking permission to bring six new permanent food kiosks on-site.

The application was lodged with Cork City Council earlier this month, which outlines plans for a new food court on the ground floor of the former Paul Street Shopping Centre.

The new facility would be located directly across from Guji Coffee and follows another application approved in 2024, which granted conditional permission for a food court on the first floor, where Other Realms and the Natural Choice health store once were.

Four food kiosks were approved as part of that application, and if this latest plan is approved, it would bring the total to 10, split across two floors. Application documents indicate that a hot sandwich counter, a salad bar, a pasta bar, an ice cream vendor, and a pizza kiosk would be offered in the food court.

The shopping centre owners have also applied to retain the existing entrance on the Guji Coffee Bar’s front facade, which opens onto Rory Gallagher Place.

Submissions can be made in respect of the food court up until August 10, and the council is due to make a decision on the application by the last day of summer.

Approval of the new food court would be particularly welcome for Fifth Quarter, following the disappointing shutdown of the food trucks and seating area outside the shopping centre.

It’s still unknown whether the food trucks will be able to return, but CorkBeo understands that the company that runs the shopping centre has engaged a planning consultant to develop proposals that comply with Cork City Council planning regulations and bylaws.

Cork City Council has also indicated it is open to working with both the operators and other local businesses – some of whom had raised concerns about the Fifth Quarter – that will bring at least some of the food trucks and tables back, but will stay within reasonable levels of space usage, allow for better accessibility and satisfy planning regulations.

Competition is also heating up elsewhere in the city, with Wings World Cuisine looking to open a large buffet-style restaurant in the Merchant’s Quay Shopping Centre.