Cork’s popular O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausage Co. Restaurant on Winthrop Street has closed its doors for a major refurbishment, its first in 17 years. The O’Flynn family, fourth-generation sausage makers, are undertaking the overhaul and sharing progress updates via social media.
The restaurant, known locally as ‘The Hatch’, is undergoing a complete redesign, including the removal of the existing floor and internal walls. Jordan O’Flynn, who manages the business’s social media accounts, detailed the changes in a series of TikTok videos, explaining the family’s desire to modernize the space and improve operational efficiency. “What was cool in our eyes about five years ago has changed, and we want to re-funk up the space,” O’Flynn said in one video.
The refurbishment addresses long-standing issues with the restaurant’s layout. According to O’Flynn, the original design, implemented nearly two decades ago, was becoming rigid and difficult to maintain. “Our classic restaurant design was a bit rigid, and everything stuck in place with a lot of stainless steel, but cleaning and replacing equipment was always hectic,” he explained. The recent design will prioritize a more flexible layout, allowing for easier equipment movement and cleaning, mirroring the setup at their newer location on Western Road.
Unexpectedly, the renovation revealed previously unknown space within the building. “We designed down here like 17 or so years ago and completely forgot about an extra bit of space behind one of the walls,” O’Flynn revealed. The discovery, made during the demolition of a partition wall, will provide additional storage space, a persistent challenge for the restaurant.
O’Flynn’s Gourmet Sausages was established in 1921 and has become a Cork institution. The company’s products are available in SuperValu, Tesco, and Dunnes Stores throughout Cork, and Munster. In addition to the Winthrop Street location, O’Flynn’s operates a stall in the English Market and a fast-casual restaurant on Winthrop Street. Last year, they opened a new casual-dining restaurant on Western Road, near University College Cork, catering to the student population.
Customers seeking O’Flynn’s sausages during the Winthrop Street closure can visit their stall in the English Market. The company also offers a catering menu and a range of sausage varieties, gourmet burgers, meatballs, and black & white pudding. O’Flynn’s is known for its signature “Cork Boi” sausage sandwich, served with relish, caramelised onion, ketchup, and mayo.
The O’Flynn family has not yet announced a reopening date for the Winthrop Street restaurant, but is soliciting ideas from customers via social media. The refurbishment is ongoing, with the family aiming to minimize the closure period.
