A new zero‑alcohol bar called Saor is opening in Cork city, located in the Marina Market alongside some of the city’s most sought-after food vendors.
The bar is led by founder Steve Guiney, who is also co‑founder of the Original 7 craft brewery, and with an early November opening, it is all hands on deck getting things ready for their launch.
Saor will offer people the opportunity to enjoy a delicious drink in a social, uplifting and classic bar setting without a drop of alcohol being poured. “We’ll be offering alcohol-free beer, alcohol- free cocktails, alcohol-free wines, spirits and more. When you think about your usual bar settings and atmosphere, this is exactly the same, but with alcohol free alternatives,” said Steve.
Saor will be a hotspot for all kinds of people, but the cultural shift towards a lighter approach to alcohol consumption has certainly been an inspiration for the venture. Steve says if he had been approached to set up an alcohol free bar a few years ago, he might not have believed in it working.
“The cultural shift hasn’t gone unnoticed. It’s very much part of our excitement about bringing this venture to life. There are a lot of people who have gone sober on certain days of the week,that would only drink on maybe Saturday nights, for example, but they keep Friday nights sober. People want to meet up and they still want to engage with others and elevate their liquid experience in the process. It shouldn’t be just the behest of those drinking alcohol.”
More people are also trying the whole ‘sober curious’ thing for a week or two or a month , and it’s really about balance and choice, the two can go hand in hand to suit where your lifestyle is at that moment as Steve explained. “My wife is co-owner of Obodo Gym on the Back Douglas Road, and I had to laugh the other day when I overheard someone there saying they’d had ‘a great session’ at the weekend, a few years ago that would’ve meant something very different. It just shows how things are shifting, some weekends you might enjoy a drink, other times you might go for an alcohol-free option, especially if you’ve a gym class or a 10k run lined up”.
People bond over commonalities, and the enjoyment of alcohol is a common means of bringing people together in a pub or bar. An alcohol-free bar means that no one has to sacrifice anything. For people who are sober, they have free reign of a creative menu and are not stuck sipping sparkling water all night, and for those who do enjoy alcohol, the drinks are delicious and can be reminiscent of alcohol without the actual sauce.
Steve reflected on how many bars would not have had a mocktail or alcohol-free selection a few years ago, but now every bar will have something for those who are sober. Saor’s own menu is inspired by classic cocktails with bold flavours and fresh ingredients. “It’s beyond a juice, it’s beyond a mocktail, I don’t even like the word mocktail. We do zero alcohol cocktails, because a lot of thought and effort and creativity goes into these cocktails to actually elevate the overall drinking experience and match that with the food that you’re going to be eating as well inside in the main market,” he said.
“We have a twist on a pornstar martini, which we’ll call a PG martini, and we have a twist on a paloma which we’re going to call a pal00ma. There’s loads of things that we can do with the liquids to make amazing cocktails without having to have alcohol in them.”
He added that all of their alcohol-free options are from Irish brands, with the exception of their spirit alternative CleanCo, which still has an Irish connection as it is founded by Spencer Matthews, husband of TV personality and entrepreneur Vogue Williams.
“Everything that we’re going to be providing is going to be all Irish, with the exception of the alcohol replacement spirit CleanCo. But Fierce Mild beers are brewed in Dundalk. Then there is Whiplash Never Drinking Again beer, which is brewed in Dublin. So there are two essentially non-alcoholic craft beers. Then, on the wine side of things, it’s an Irish company called Hollow Leg. We’re gonna be getting their full portfolio of red, white, rosé, and sparkly wine. And then, our cocktails are developed in-house, so, we’ll be using the best of Irish ingredients in all of those – everything is all locally sourced with the cocktail menu. We’re keeping everything fairly artisanal.” The bar will also feature kombuchas,kefirs, soft drinks and homemade lemonades.
Steve says he enjoys a drink as much as the next person, but he also likes having the choice for those times when there’s a busy day ahead and he wants to feel “focused and energised.”
Perceptions are shifting in Ireland when it comes to sober socialisation, with sober raves, club nights and dinner parties taking place across the country. “You can still have really good fun,” said Steve. “I think people associate the fun part with the alcohol part, but there’s plenty of fun to be had and plenty of discussions to be had over alcohol-free products.”
Having visited alcohol-free bars in Dublin and elsewhere, I know there can be great craic without the booze. As someone who enjoys a social drink and has friends who choose sobriety for various reasons, I’ve often seen how social events can leave someone feeling excluded or pressured. Alcohol-free bars change that dynamic, offering everyone an equal opportunity to connect and enjoy themselves.Looking forward to seeing what Saor brings to the alcohol-free social space. And since it’s going to be in the marina market we have the added bonus of being able to bring our pooches for a pint!
Saor will be open in early November in Cork’s Marina Market, and you can follow them on social media on @saor.bar
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