Small cities like Cork can be both easy and difficult to shop in, but if it’s your first time shopping in Cork it can be quite hard to find the things you want all in one place. For the high street shoppers, there are plenty of places to look, for example, Oliver Plunkett Street, Grand Parade, Merchants Quay Paul Street and many more. The high streets are full of many different and quirky stores, which also have low prices for the budget strapped traveller and high value items for the rich tourist.
Cork also has many markets, one being the Coal Quay Market, which sell things such as, clothes, CDs, shoes etc. Also, one of Cork’s many food markets is the English Market. This is good for people in the local area as well as people from further away as they can pick up fresh good quality food.
Mahon Point Shopping Centre, one of Cork’s popular shopping centres, also has high street stores as well as department stores such as Debenhams. Mahon Point Shopping Centre has a cinema with 13 screening rooms. The Mahon Point Shopping Centre also has restaurants, leisure facilities and cafes. The opening times are, Mon-Wed 9.30am-7pm, Thurs-Fri 9.30am-9.00pm, Sat 9.30-7.00pm, Sun/Bank Holidays 11am-6pm. In Mahon Point Shopping Centre, there are plenty of places to eat, Bagel Bar, BBs Coffee & Muffins, O’Briens Sandwich Bar, KFC, Fruit Boost and McDonalds.
Another main shopping centre in Cork is, Merchants Quay Shopping Centre, which has many restaurants such as, Marks & Spencer’s restaurant, Debenhams restaurant, Food life, Cafe Hi, and La Croissanterie. Merchant Quay Shopping Centre has an Ice Cream Parlour called HB Swirl. There are many fashion stores in Merchant Quay Shopping Centre; some are, Crisis, Next, Rebel Trading Co., Tie Rack, Japan, Debenhams, Marks and Spencer and more. In and around the Shopping Centre there are four ATMs, Digital Photography, Lifts, First Aid, Taxis, Pharmacy, and Car Parking. The Car Park Opening times are, Monday- Wednesday 8am-6.30pm, Thursday-Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-6.30pm, and Sunday 11.30am-6pm. The opening hours of the shopping centre itself are, Monday-Thursday 9am-6pm, Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9am-6pm, Sunday 2-6pm.
Also in Cork is, Wilton Shopping Centre. This shopping centre has more than 65 shops and is only 10 minutes away from the city centre. A great advantage is that Wilton Shopping Centre has Free Parking and there is enough space for 1000 cars. The opening hours are, Mon-Wed 9am-7pm, Thurs-Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 9am-7pm, Sun 12noon-6pm. Wilton Shopping Centre has many fashionable stores, e.g., A-wear, WB Shoes, Jean Scene and Penneys. Health and beauty Stores in Wilton Shopping Centre are, Boots, Nature’s Way, Beauty Salon, O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy and Jeff Devine Hair Group. If you’re into your mobile phones, you’re in luck, Wilton Shopping Centre has, The Carphone Warehouse, Vodafone, 3G Communications, 02 Retail and Meteor. There are also many facilities, for instance, a bank, post office, library, and even Tesco. For nice Jewellery, look in A-wear or Neville Jewellers. To contact Wilton Shopping Centre Management Office, phone: 021-4546944 or fax: 021-4301048, or, to contact the Management Agents, phone: 021-4275454.