2 June 2021
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Local Business News
Brothers Colin and Philip Ryan who have both worked in the hospitality sector for numerous years and were forced to close their doors due to the pandemic have started up separate businesses alongside each other. The Ryan brothers both recently opened units in the Marina market on centre park road in cork.
Colin Ryan who is currently General manager of the Oyster Bar on Partick’s street has opened up a rotisserie chicken unit called ‘Hansum’. His older brother Philip who has recently mad the move to take the helm at the family business, Isaac’s Restaurant on McCurtain street has opened up a unit serving ice creams, waffles, smoothies and milk shakes called ‘Smoove’.
Between the pair they have over 35 years experience in the hospitality sector in cork city and around the country running venues such as the Sophies @ the Dean Dublin, Brick Lane Cork, Sober lane Cork & Dublin, An Brog bar & voodoo rooms nighclub Cork and JJ Coppingers Midelton. Unfortunately due to the pandemic both were left out of work and after lockdown number three they decided that they needed to try their hands at something new.
Colin Ryan had this to say on the matter “well most of my friends and I suppose my family also work in the service industry and I think we were all finding the rolling lockdowns really tough. I think the longest holiday I had taken in the last few years was about 2 weeks and while it was fun for a while the novelty wore off pretty quickly. I decided to use the opportunity of being unemployed during the pandemic to put my time to good use and create my own brand”.
The extended Ryan family are also no strangers to the Hospitality sector. The brothers grand- father Sean Ryan opened up Irelands first-ever Michelin star awarded restaurant, the Arbutus Lodge, in 1971 in which their father Michael and uncle Declan were the head chefs. Michael went on to open up Isaacs restaurant, which has been a staple in the Irish foodie scene for last 30 years and Declan owns Ryans Arbutus Breads.
Philip went on to say “Colin came to me one day and told me about his idea and asked if I could give him a hand setting up his Rotisserie, which I was more than happy to do. We spent a few weeks working on his unit which was stored behind the scenes in the marina market. I really loved the vibe down there and I suppose I got container envy and I decided to take the plunge and open up my own unit”.
The pair are looking forward to their respective businesses reopening in the coming weeks and both admit that while it has been a long road to get to where we are now, they see a bright future ahead.
The Marina Market Cork is open 7 days a week from 9am till late.
