Introducing Cork in Bloom at The River Club in partnership with The Boatyard Distillery

press release 

Introducing Cork in Bloom at The River Club in partnership with The Boatyard Distillery

The terrace at The River Club has undergone a stunning transformation just in time for summer in the city. Continuing in its series of visually beautiful seasonal installations, Cork in Bloom in partnership with The Boatyard Distillery at  The River Club is the latest  riverside experience on the popular terrace at The River Lee.

Created with Cork’s most innovative florist and long-time collaborator, Fox Flowers, the new décor is an ode to the quintessential florals found growing wild in the spectacular West Cork countryside. A beautiful lush, green escape, the Cork in Bloom Terrace is adorned with apple blossom, hydrangea, primrose and foxglove, rambling fuchsia and crocosmia, turning this riverside spot in the heart of Cork into an idyllic Irish country garden. And of course in preparation for every version of an Irish summer, the terrace can also be transformed into an open air oasis or fully heated and covered summer hideaway at a moment’s notice. 

A rising tide lifts all boats so along with its fresh new look, The River Club has teamed up with the multi-award winning Boatyard Distillery to create a brand-new drinks menu exclusive to the Cork in Bloom Terrace. Earlier this year, Boatyard’s Double Gin was crowned the number two trending gin brand in the world in the Drinks International Brands Report, while Boatyard’s Vodka was named as a newcomer on the bestselling vodka brands list for 2025. A Certified B Corp company, Boatyard Distillery have a keen eye on sustainability in everything they do, using only organic botanicals in their gin, they take an eco-friendly approach to packaging and recently launched a 2.8L refill pouch. The Distillery also offers a refill service to reduce glass waste. 

From their lakeside location in County Fermanagh, The Boatyard Distillery are taking their worldwide appeal to the banks of the River Lee with a menu of Boatyard centric drinks. Boatyard Double Gin was made with Martinis in mind! Crafted for classic serves, built on timeless quality and meant to elevate every pour, the classic Boatyard Martini with Boatyard double gin, dry vermouth and orange bitters, is ice cold and the perfectly crisp grown up cocktail to order this summer. Opt for something refreshing with the Fuchsia Fizz made with Boatyard Double Gin, raspberry Italicus, Liqueur Poire William, Fever-Tree Mediterranean tonic and the Crocosmo, mixing Boatyard Vodka, Chambord, raspberry purée, lemon juice, vanilla syrup and prosecco. With summer tipples sorted, the team at The River Club will be serving a selection of Mediterranean inspired small plates like the ever-popular Italian burrata with pea and mint chicory salad and Sicilian flatbread, a classic Caesar salad and a local English Market tasting board.

The stylish Cork in Bloom Terrace in partnership with The Boatyard Distillery at The River Club will launch on the 1st of May and run all summer long, summer in the city has never looked (or tasted) so good!

 

Open 7 days from 11 until late, for enquiries please call 021 493 7772 or visit theriverclubcork.ie 

 

All Happening at the River Lee. Afternoon Tea, Harvest Carriage, Jazz Fest

All Happening at the River Lee

Afternoon Tea, Harvest Carriage, Jazz Fest

Petite pieces of finesse and elegance, crowned by this quartet of sweet sensations.
Congrats to the team here as their Afternoon Tea has been awarded best in Munster.

Always a buzz around the River Club in the River Lee. Even more so at present as the riverside hotel steps up another gear - no standing still around here. Latest highlights include a splendid Afternoon Tea and the Harvest Carriage. 

And, for the October Bank Holiday, between the Club and the River Room, there’s a score and more jazz slots, all free, a whole lot of fun from 5.00pm on Friday until 7.00pm on Monday. The excellent New York Brass Band will be here everyday. They are superbly entertaining and watch out too for the Art Crimes Band. But there is something for everyone. Check it all out here 

We were in for the Afternoon Tea last Friday but we also had a look at the Harvest Carriage. The what? Did you know that a three-foot narrow gauge train-line ran from Cork City to Blarney from the late 19th century until it finally ceased service in 1934.

The Harvest Carriage

The Cork and Muskerry Light Railway brought pleasure-seeking tourists from the city to the countryside and ran right through where the River Club now stands. This was the very site of the old Western Road station – in fact you can still see the remnants of the train tracks just under the terrace of the adjoining Grill Room restaurant and two stumps of supporting columns stand in the river outside!

These days, the riverside terrace has been decorated to evoke the good old days of train travel, not so much on the Cork and Muskerry, more like the luxury continental lines. The River Club, in partnership with Fever-Tree mixers, is offering a selection of cocktails to while away the “journey”.

And we started with one! Since we had been assigned to drive the express, the drink had to be non alcoholic. And our host, Pierce Lowney, General Manager, had just the ticket. A seasonal one, based on the refreshing and spiced Seed-Lip, with ginger beer and their own apple and pear cordial. Now, after that delicious Amuse Bouche, blow that whistle and check out the dining carriage for that superb tea.

River Club Bar

The menu follows the traditional three parts: savoury, scones and sweet, all tempting. Four finger sandwiches were Curry Spiced Coronation Chicken, Cucumber and Chive Glenilen Cream Cheese, Focaccia with sun-dried tomato and basil hummus and my favourite Dressed Ballycotton Crab on homemade Guinness brown bread.

The influence of Modern Botany was seen in the very tempting Bramley Apple and Flax Financier in the scone plate and in the sweets as well. There was Camomile and Honey Carrageen Moss pudding, Orange and Polenta Cake with calendula mousseline cream, Earl Grey Chocolate Choux Bun and a joint favourite Pineapple and Coriander Green Tea Tartlet.

We choose the House Tea here, Barry’s Gold Blend, to start with and when that pot was finished I switched to one of the Ronnefeldt Loose Leaf Teas, the delicious balanced Early Grey. And they had more to offer including an Irish Whiskey Cream tea! Coffees too of course.

Speaking of balance, I think that this was one of the best balanced Afternoon Tea menus I’ve enjoyed, not too heavy at all, even that green tea tartlet in the desserts is quite light. So, feeling nicely fed than overly so, off we headed on a leisurely walk downtown. No train going that way now.

Plants and flowers, both wild and cultivated, are at the heart of Modern Botany’s approach to skincare, using the best natural botanical ingredients to promote skin health, including flax, calendula, borage and chamomile. 

These same plants and herbs all feature in this Modern Botany Afternoon Tea at The River Lee. The company is based in Schull and draws on the botanical richness of the Wild Atlantic Way to create their products. And, if you are an Afternoon Tea customer, you’ll get a gift of a Modern Botany travel size gift.  

The River Lee Hotel  

Western Road

Cork

Beats and Brunch. Music and Munch. All Happens at The River Club.

Beats and Brunch. Music and Munch.

All Happens at The River Club.

Cork’s progressive River Lee Hotel has spectacularly transformed its dining and beverage facilities in recent months. The eye-catching River Club is now their ultra comfortable centre. 

Here you can relax and enjoy brunch, lunch and drinks (with the alternative of the adjoining enclosed riverside terrace) and there’s sophisticated dining in the Grill Room. Sophisticated or casual or just in for a drink and nibbles with friends, the River Club is worth a call.

We visited the colourful venue on Sunday as a part of a Media Sneak Peek. Head Chef Paul Lane had a line-up of tempting brunch dishes for us while the music, from vinyl, added to the buzz. Claire and Sinead, rightly proud of the new set-up, greeted us and told us their ingredients come from an array of local suppliers including the English Market and that all their beef is 100% per cent Irish.

Soon their Signature Bloody Mary (Ketel One Vodka, River Club Mary Mix, Lemon and with or without oyster garnish) made a welcome appearance and we were up and running in our comfortable high seats. You also have the armchair option! Enjoyed too one of their Juicery Shots (mine was the Blueberry with Almond Milk and Coconut water). And then followed the Granola (Greek yogurt, seasonal fruit compote).

By now, we were finding out more about the menu, making our choices. I put my eye on the Sautéed Wild Mushroom and Spinach (English muffin, poached eggs chilli flakes, and hollandaise sauce) and I wasn’t disappointed. Far from it. 

CL too was very happy with her choice: Tomato and Avocado Toast (English muffin, poached eggs, chilli flakes and hollandaise sauce). We were both saying that we preferred the muffin to sourdough in the dishes. What do you think?

Also available were the River Club Brunch Special, Eggs Florentine and Toasted Banana Bread. And, don’t worry, on their full menu you’ll find Eggs Benedict and Eggs Royale and more.

And we also had dessert. CL picked the Lemon Posset, a very good one indeed. Meanwhile I was spooning from my tall Chocolate Sundae and sipping from a flavour packed Espresso O’Martini (Kalak Irish Vodka, Black Twist Liqueur, Espresso, Demerara). Both the Kalak and the Black Twist are Irish by the way.

Lots of tempting cocktails on offer, a selection from their Hi-Ball and Classic lists. Very tempted by the Safe Harbour (Kraken Spiced Rum, Ginger Beer, Lime, Murphy’s Irish Stout, Demerara) and the Barry’s Brandy (Courvoisier VSOP Cognac, Cold Brew Barry’s Tea, Honey, Lemon). I did get a taste of the the Brandy but my favourite was the Velvet Lady (Blackwater No. 5 Gin, Velvet Falernum, Cointreau, Lemon). Just perfect!