Restaurant serves up unusual ad

A jobs advertisement posted in the window of a soon-to-open restaurant in Cork has turned more than a few heads in recent days.

The owners of OX Restaurant in Kinsale, formerly Crackpots, hope to open their doors to the public as soon as next week.

However, as is the case with many businesses in the hospitality sector, attracting staff is proving a challenge for the new owners, one of whom is veteran Cork chef Brendan Cashman.

In an effort to get the ball rolling, Brendan placed an ad in the restaurant’s window encouraging anyone from age 16 to 80 and over to come and apply.

The ad playfully asks: “Where are the 60+ brigade? What happened the twenty-somethings? Are the over 40s hiding? No teen spirit?”

Speaking to the Cork Independent, Brendan says the ad has attracted applicants, although a candidate in the 80+ bracket has yet to come forward.

“We have had a response, but it is a lot of 16 year olds, which is super, particularly for the current 16/17 year olds. As we know, they've been locked in their house for this pandemic, so their people skills need a bit of sharpening.

“We hoped we'd get some mature people as well, people who have finished or are finishing their career, or have raised their kids that are looking to do something, maybe not every day, but we are completely flexible here.

“I did have a lovely woman yesterday who turned 50 today who was ex-Aer Lingus, and she said 'look, I have no experience in this industry but I'm good with people'. That's all you need!

“This is a people industry, everything happens live, you have to have a bit of common sense and a bit of calm and a sense of humour as well.”

One issue Brendan and other business owners face in Kinsale is the price of accommodation in the town which makes it extremely difficult for workers to live nearby, with many property owners going the route of guesthouses and Airbnbs rather than rented accommodation.

“I worked here myself here in Kinsale when I was a younger chef, 26 or 27 years ago, and even then it was a challenge to get accommodation. There is a bit of give and take; tourists can't have the experience of a place like Kinsale if there aren't staff here to work the places,” says Brendan.

Opening soon in Kinsale town centre, OX Restaurant promises a relaxed ‘no white tablecloth’ atmosphere and will primarily stock locally produced alcohol.