Chinese Investors Buy Cork’s Model Farm Pub for €1.1M

Model Farm Road Bistro Sells for €1.1m to Hospitality Investors

The Model Farm Bar & Bistro on Model Farm Road has been sold for €1.1m to investors Sengfund, according to selling agents Lisney. The premises has continued to trade since being placed on the market in 2025 by the Burton family.

Lisney confirmed that the contract has been executed and the transaction is scheduled to close in early September. The buyers, Aichen Chen and Lin Zhu, are the Chinese business duo behind several food-focused hospitality ventures in the city, including the Royal Palace Chinese Restaurant located above The Hawthorn Bar by the Lough, alongside The Pearl River and Nosh 19 on Princes Street.

Sengfund Expansion Across Cork Hospitality

Corporate filings with the Companies Registration Office show that Chen and Lin registered a trio of Sengfund entities over the past year, acting as directors and shareholders across all three companies. Sengfund Investment Ltd lists its principal activity as buying and selling real estate, while Sengfund 1 and Sengfund 2 Ltd focus on restaurants and mobile food service activities.

This acquisition follows Sengfund’s multimillion-euro purchase of the former Flying Enterprise complex in the city centre last November. That property has since been renamed The South Gate due to its location adjacent to South Gate Bridge. The complex features the Courtyard Bar—which holds party capacities of up to 700 people—alongside a shop, Quay News, an off-licence, and five overhead apartments.

Hectic Activity Across Cork’s Pub Market

Commercial real estate agents report a hectic pace of transactions across the city’s licensed trade over the past twelve months. Talks are currently advanced regarding the sale of Paddy the Farmers, a high-profile corner pub with nine overhead apartments located at Summer Hill North and Old Blackrock Rd. Although an initial offer of €1.9m fell through, Lisney confirmed the property is sale agreed once more with a new purchaser, with a targeted closing date by the end of September.

Progress is similarly underway for Tequila Jacks, a waterfront venue on Lapps Quay that originally launched to the market with a guide price of €1.3m. Following a collapsed prior sale, Lisney is engaged in active discussions with two separate parties—one based in Dublin and one local—with the aim of concluding a deal swiftly.

Venues Changing Hands and Changing Concept

Beyond outright sales, numerous well-known properties are undergoing operational overhauls. Reidy’s Vault Bar on Lancaster Quay is transforming into a second city venue for hospitality operator Son of a Bun. Meanwhile, Bull McCabe’s on Airport Road is slated for residential conversion, and The Viaduct on Bandon Road is reportedly set to become a bus depot.

In the city center, Bar Electric reopened under new management as The Merchant on South Mall. Additionally, Brian Murray of The Glass Curtain restaurant on MacCurtain St is preparing to reopen the former Chambers/Sinners premises on Washington Street under the name Birdsong, featuring an enhanced food offering.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who purchased the Model Farm Bar & Bistro?

Investors Sengfund, by business duo Aichen Chen and Lin Zhu, purchased the premises for €1.1m through selling agents Lisney.

What are the buyers’ backgrounds in Cork?

Chen and Lin operate several food-focused hospitality venues in the city, including the Royal Palace Chinese Restaurant, The Pearl River, and Nosh 19, alongside their recent purchase of the Flying Enterprise complex (now The South Gate).

When is the Model Farm Road sale scheduled to complete?

Lisney confirmed that contracts have been executed and the transaction is expected to close in early September.