The Chambers Bar building on Washington Street, Cork, has gone on sale, over a year after its closure in September 2023. Once a cornerstone of Cork’s queer nightlife, Chambers had served as one of the city’s premier LGBTQ+ bars for 18 years before its sudden shutdown.  

Chambers had been operated by the Rearden’s Group, which also runs venues such as The Secret Garden, The Hidden Attic, The Cabaret, and Rearden’s Bar. Its closure in 2023 followed significant controversy surrounding its loyalty to its LGBTQ+ performers and clientele.

Prior to its closure, reports emerged that the venue had removed all Pride flags, posters, and its “Loves Every Heartbeat” branding, while also cancelling drag shows and renaming itself ‘Sinners’. Cork drag performer Krystal Queer described the move as an “eradication of the queer aesthetic” that defined the bar.

 

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Krystal told her online following that she initially learned from word of mouth that her weekly drag show had been cut from the performance schedule for the next few weeks, saying: “My main source of income had been slashed in the blink of an eye with no compassion and no notice.”

Krystal also recalled overhearing past members of the team using homophobic and transphobic language.

The bar’s sudden rebrand sparked protests from the community, with hundreds gathering on the steps of the Courthouse across the road from the venue. Attendees held placards and chanted, “We’re here to stay, you can’t paint the gay away.”

While the bar’s management apologised for the move, it never recovered and shut its doors shortly after.

Now, the property, marketed by agent Kevin O’Sullivan of Barry Auctioneers, is being offered for lease assignment to a new operator. The lease, which began on January 1, 2022, runs for a total of 10 years, leaving seven years remaining as of 2025. A rent review is scheduled for 2027, to be adjusted in line with market conditions at that time. 

The Chambers building is part of Courthouse Chambers, a historic property owned by Clarendon Properties. Clarendon also owns significant Cork landmarks, including the Queen’s Old Castle and the Savoy Centre, both of which are undergoing redevelopment.

The Courthouse Chambers complex itself dates back to the 1800s, with its central, taller section added in the 1870s. Originally a drapery factory for Dwyer’s, the site played a crucial role in the city’s industrial past.

While the future of the space is uncertain, its potential uses remain broad. It could re-emerge as a bar or licensed premises, transition into a more food-oriented venue or potentially be re-purposed as a retail space, similar to the spaces close by. With its history and central location, the Chambers building’s sale is certain to attract significant interest.