The winners will be announced in November.

But the shortlist for the Cork Better Buildings Awards this year reads like a laundry list of cool spots to eat, drink, shop, and stay on Leeside.

This year’s finalists are an interesting mix between big businesses and small independent companies across the seven categories in the awards, organised by Cork Business Association in partnership with Cork City Council.

The shortlisted nominees are:

• Heritage and Conservation: Courthouse Chambers, The Carriage Shed@HQ, The Old Victoria Hotel/Easons building.
• Arts, Tourism and Accommodation: The Dean Hotel, The Glasshouse@ The Montenotte, The Wandesford Quay Art Complex
• Café and Restaurant: Boru Cafe, Kiely’s by the Blue Haven, Moody Cafe Vin
• Commercial Premises: Darcy’s Hairdressing , Salvagem, Garage Works
• Pub: Electric, Gallaghers, The Oval
• Retail: Sheena’s, Snout, Fitzgerald’s
• New Development: Thompsons House, Penrose Dock, Horgan’s Quay

The judging panel includes Lawrence Owens, a past President of Cork Business Association, Shane Clarke, former CEO of Nano Nagle Place and urban design consultant, Ashleigh Murray, who joined Cork City Council earlier this year as Conservation Officer, and Gwen Jordan, Senior Executive Planner with Cork City Council.

The Glasshouse at The Montenotte hotel.

“The maintenance of properties and the visual aesthetics of buildings has a huge impact on the health of the city and the community environment and this is something that we as judges are all passionate about,” said Owens.

“We are all heartened by the number of submissions received this year and judging of each category has been keenly debated.”

This year’s winners will be announced in person at an event in The Metropole Hotel, MacCurtain Street on November 11th, 2022.