Kilkenny businesses given opportunity to extend opening hours under Night-Time Economy pilot

Kilkenny County Council is piloting a new funding scheme to encourage local cafés in Kilkenny City to extend their opening hours by offering innovative and cultural events after 6pm.

'Café Lates' is a direct response to feedback from a public survey conducted last year under the Night Time Economy Pilot Initiative which showed that people would welcome later evening and night time opening hours for cafes.

Under Call One , the local authority are inviting local cafés located in the city to apply for funding to introduce engaging cultural programming after 6pm for the evenings of Thursday, April 17 and Thursday, May 29.

"The success of the Night Time Economy Diversification Scheme last year demonstrated to us the demand from the general public and tourists to enjoy a range of activities after 6pm," Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Andrew McGuinness said. 

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"In piloting this brand new initiative with a particular focus on the cafés, we want to encourage local businesses to diversify their offering in the evening time and examine if the later opening hours could be continued sustainably into the future," he added.

Night Time Economy Advisor for Kilkenny City, Conor Sweeney, added: "We are now over halfway through the implementation of the Night Time Economy Pilot Action Plan and this is an area that we are particularly keen to develop and support.

"The café culture in Ireland has become very popular so in supporting them to extend their opening hours and offer live performances on those two evenings, the participating cafés have the opportunity to showcase a night time experience for new and existing customers," he continued.

The successful applicants must commit to extending their opening times by at least two hours after 6pm on both of those dates. The minimum grant award available is €350 and the maximum grant award is €750. The closing date for applications is 5pm on Friday, March 28.