Burger King in Cork - Why only One?

JupiterKid

I'm a fan of BK's whoppers and I was looking at their website earlier today. While BK have about 15+ outlets in Dublin, and a couple each in Limerick and Galway, there is only one in all of Cork - on Patrick Street.

Why is this? There are about 6 McDonalds outlets in the city alone so why only the one Burger King? Is it not popular in Cork or has the fast food chain just not been able to open any additional locations - like a drive thru in the suburbs?:(

celica00

i so feel the pain!

even though its not healthy, i love BK, but living too far away...but it see it like that:
in case u can go there, its a goood day then:D

Buceph

Burger King far outstrips McDonalds when it comes to ****ty indulgent crappy fast food.

Mmmm XL Bacon Double Cheeseburger.

Jagle

I for one am delighted to hear ye only have one BK.

for too long now cork has gone on about how great it is, the true capitol of ireland, lets set this straight, ye are big, ill grant ye that, but being the biggest doesnt make ye the best, it makes ye the fattest.

and the whole rebel county nonsense, Limerick citay is the only county to have actually become its own country, finally ye cork fenians have been put in your place.



now off to get an angus burger with rashers hahahaha

PseudoFamous

Burger King operates as a franchise in Ireland, doesn't it? If there isn't more than one in Cork, it's because only one person has decided they want to own a burger king.

charlemont

stacexD

BK on Patrick Street is always empty when I'm in there.
I never used to go there but got hooked on the XL bacon double cheese when I was living in Waterford.
At least our BK isn't full of pigeons trying to rob your chips :P

Cool_CM

Have Irish BKs started selling this yet?



It is amazing!

ComeraghBlue

Slightly off topic but why did the pizza hut in Blackpool & Little Island close? Crazy that a city like Cork doesn't have a proper pizza hut. Am I the only one who loved the all you can eat buffet ?

Hogzy

PseudoFamous wrote: »

Burger King operates as a franchise in Ireland, doesn't it? If there isn't more than one in Cork, it's because only one person has decided they want to own a burger king.

Nearly ALL fast food outlets (BK, McDonalds, Subway etc etc) in Ireland are franchise owned.

In fairness McDonalds have had their locations in Cork for ages. AFAIK its Franchise policy to only operate where competition is minimal. This probably wouldnt apply to city center locations where the footfall is much higher than in suburban areas where people dont exactly stroll by and decide to stroll in.

BK were going to go into Mahon Point however there was a change to KFC last minute afaik. Why this was i dont know but i would agree with the majroity here. BK is much nicer than McDonalds. Cant beat them flame grilled burgers.

ComeraghBlue wrote: »

Slightly off topic but why did the pizza hut in Blackpool & Little Island close? Crazy that a city like Cork doesn't have a proper pizza hut. Am I the only one who loved the all you can eat buffet ?

Because they were an absolute rip off. The little island outlet was a mental idea. People dont spend €10 on a pizza for lunch. Anyone who can afford to pay that everyday for lunch will not be going to pizza hut either. It was a terrible location for such a large outlet. Pizza Hut Delivery is in Carrigaline and deliver to Douglas and Rochestown. Very nice pizza too.

Setting up a franchise in Ireland is a business decision. If you are deciding to set up a McD's or a BK you will question which will bring in the most people. In Ireland i think people are more accustomed to McD's unfortunatly so that is the more favourable business decision.

beer enigma

Franchises are very territorial - I wonder if the BK franchisees have a deal limiting other BKs in cork - dunno, just wonder

As for Pizza Hut - little island was great for family & kids - found the kids menu very good, but prob wouldn't pay the bills as a it needs to be staff intensive

JupiterKid

I like the occasional McDonalds but I really think that the whopper is a superior burger to the big mac.

I still can't see why Burger King have a paltry one single restaurant in all of Cork. I see an opportunity for a suburban drive thru in locations where McDonalds are absent - like Wilton/Bishopstown, Ballincollig, Carigaline and perhaps Cobh.

Surely there is enough demand for more than just one BK in Cork?

Owen

BK make great burgers, but their chips are disgusting. They're mostly grease soaked, and glued together.

kcb

JupiterKid wrote: »

I like the occasional McDonalds but I really think that the whopper is a superior burger to the big mac.

I still can't see why Burger King have a paltry one single restaurant in all of Cork. I see an opportunity for a suburban drive thru in locations where McDonalds are absent - like Wilton/Bishopstown, Ballincollig, Carigaline and perhaps Cobh.

Surely there is enough demand for more than just one BK in Cork?

I always find it hard to understand why there is no McD, BK, KFC, even a SuperMacs in Ballincollig.

Surely a market there.

An Indian would do nicely too!

pow wow

There was an article recently in one of the free local papers about a second drive-thru being planned for Douglas. Fingers crossed it's a BK, I can't really think of anyone else who'd go in there...Dino's maybe?

GavRedKing

I prefer BK to McD's all day long but the location isnt really viable when I'm in the mood for fast food which generally leads to a trip out to the McD's in Douglas.

flo8s967qjh0nd

Rating a city based on the number of fast-food restaurants it has is pretty stupid. If you like BK go to Patrick Street, if not don't bother. I don't see why we need a load of them dotted around the suburbs creating rubbish and fat kids.

JohnK

Hogzy wrote: »

Pizza Hut Delivery is in Carrigaline and deliver to Douglas and Rochestown. Very nice pizza too.

They've opened a delivery place on the Rochestown road now, its part of the shop (that used to be called Essentials - I dont know what its called now)

pow wow wrote: »

There was an article recently in one of the free local papers about a second drive-thru being planned for Douglas. Fingers crossed it's a BK, I can't really think of anyone else who'd go in there...Dino's maybe?

I remeber from a few years back there was talk of Dinos having a drive through in Douglas so that'd be pretty cool.

Spindle

The market in Cork is just too small, anyway Burger King was only a place to go to the bathroom when on a night out

Hogzy

Spindle wrote: »

The market in Cork is just too small

Clearly not if there are 6 Mcdonalds.

zeusnero

JupiterKid wrote: »

There are about 6 McDonalds outlets in the city alone

i only know of 2: Winthrop street and Patrick Street - where are the other 4?

evilivor

zeusnero wrote: »

i only know of 2: Winthrop street and Patrick Street - where are the other 4?

Mahon Point, Douglas and two in Blackpool.

BArra

one in midleton aswell

zeusnero

zeusnero wrote: »

i only know of 2: Winthrop street and Patrick Street - where are the other 4?

BArra wrote: »

one in midleton aswell

Whatever chance one could make for describing Douglas as being in the city there's no chance Midleton is

DJ Hafez

Just had Burger King home delivered!

....

I'm kinda in Egypt this week though :P

Rhys Essien

Spindle wrote: »

The market in Cork is just too small, anyway Burger King was only a place to go to the bathroom when on a night out

+1.
How many Hillbillies,Lennoxs,Dinos,Abrakebabra,McDonalds,Four Star Pizza,Dominos etc. are there?

-Corkie-

Rhys Essien wrote: »

+1.
How many Hillbillies,Lennoxs,Dinos,Abrakebabra,McDonalds,Four Star Pizza,Dominos etc. are there?

Dinos FTW... King dino yum yum yum..

mik_da_man

-Corkie- wrote: »

Dinos FTW... King dino yum yum yum..

I've lived in Cork for over 4 years and only had one last week.
Bloody Tasty
Gonna be in trouble now cause it's only down the road in douglas and then theres the new Pizza Hut.

though I'd really love to see a drive through BK in Douglas too :P

JupiterKid

There has to be demand in Cork for more than one BK. If Cork city can support 6 McDonalds then it can support at least 2 Burger Kings.

McDonalds first opened in Winthrop street nigh on 30 years ago. Its first suburban drive thru outlet opened in Douglas almost 20 years ago. It's high time BK opened a drive thru and/or a second restaurant in Cork.

babo9

Maybe BK just isn't popular enough.

Any time I've been there, it's never been full (bar Paddys day etc.) and I've never had to queue for any length of time, unlike many McDonalds I've been too!
Other BKs I've been to in other countys are much busier too.

Sure BK in Cork is far bigger, but maybe that's a fault, do you need a place so big for a fast food restaurant that's only packed on special events!

I guess the people of Cork just don't like BK enough :P

With McDonalds breakfast menu and extended opening hours along with their recent refurbs they have I reckon changed the image from simply a fastfood outlet to an almost cafe type place too, BK is still simply a fastfood type outlet, people call into McDonalds for a coffee and a cookie now, not just for the fast food meals.

pow wow

RoverJames wrote: »

With McDonalds breakfast menu and extended opening hours along with their recent refurbs they have I reckon changed the image from simply a fastfood outlet to an almost cafe type place too, BK is still simply a fastfood type outlet, people call into McDonalds for a coffee and a cookie now, not just for the fast food meals.

BK still much much nicer than McDo though, however posh the latter thinks it is these days

Most definitely, BK is grand grub, folks don't call in there for a coffee and cookie though

-Corkie-

RoverJames wrote: »

Most definitely, BK is grand grub, folks don't call in there for a coffee and cookie though

I absolutley detest the place partially because when I was working in the UK I ate there everyday..:mad:

MikeCork2009

What happened to the BK Flame Grilled Chicken Sandwich (think that was the name). It was like a chicken fillet (no breadcrumbs like the Royale) flame grilled in a Whopper bun with mayonaise, tomato and lettuce. It just disappeared a few years ago never to return, was lovely and a good alternative to beef for a change. It kind of looked like the Rustlers one

barbs84

JupiterKid wrote: »

I'm a fan of BK's whoppers and I was looking at their website earlier today. While BK have about 15+ outlets in Dublin, and a couple each in Limerick and Galway, there is only one in all of Cork - on Patrick Street.



there is only one in galway

JupiterKid

barbs84 wrote: »

there is only one in galway

Galway city is less than half the size of Cork. Plus, Galway has loads of Supermacs.

Cool_CM

Cool_CM wrote: »

Have Irish BKs started selling this yet?



It is amazing!

This has landed. It's one of the specials at the moment and tastes more or less the same as it does in Germany/Switzerland, which is good enough for me!

Ludo

Same price as in that ad also?

Cool_CM

Ludo wrote: »

Same price as in that ad also?

Unfortunately not, €4.40 or thereabouts. Still cheaper than Switzerland though!

Ludo

Wow cheaper than Switzerland (most expensive country in world)... Great.

Cool_CM

Ludo wrote: »

Wow cheaper than Switzerland (most expensive country in world)... Great.

It's a personal thing, I used to live there so I'm quite happy to be paying less than I used to.

Lando Griffin

Ludo wrote: »

Wow cheaper than Switzerland (most expensive country in world)... Great.

I thought Ireland held that title for a while, oh well those were the days.

Ludo

Cool_CM wrote: »

It's a personal thing, I used to live there so I'm quite happy to be paying less than I used to.

Wasn't having a pop at you by the way... Sorry if it came across that way.

Pepsirebel

Nice one.....I know want a BK !!!!!!

SomeFool

Was actually thinking yesterday that the old Esso site on the Western road would make a great location for a fast food drive through! I reckon a BK or MaccyDs would clean up there.

BArra

does anyone know why the steakhouse angus burger is gone from burger king? nothing to do with horses by any chance is it? :rolleyes:

murphym7

When I saw that the thread was brought back to life, I hoped a little that maybe there was news on another BK being opened. Dreams shattered and dashed again!:(

Really love the burgers there, just too awkward to go there if you are not in town for something else already.

kcb

I heard McD tried to get planning for a drive-thru by the new Aldi in Ballincollig, but was turned down...

Seems Ballincollig are adament not to have any McD or BK

Jimmy Bottles

Often heard rumours, the reason there is only 1 Burger King is that the guy who holds the Patrick Street franchise signed an exclusivity agreement with Burger King for 25 years in Cork City.

I believe BK opened in 1989 so this would be the last year of that agreement. Anyone else heard anything similar ?

jimgoose

Lovely flavour from that there flame-grilling. :cool: