“No neighborhood, lots of parking spaces”: these bars which are a hit on the outskirts of town centers in Cornwall

In Douarnenez, success of theme evenings

Once a month they organize themed evenings. The last one, that of Saturday November 30, entitled “Almost Lookalikes” was once again a great success. “There’s no point asking a Douarneniste twice to disguise himself,” jokes Nathalie Kervarec. With their concept, the managers were able to attract new customers. “Parents like to come with their children because in summer, the outside being secure, they can play outside,” she assures.

In Pont-l’Abbé, the bar and wine merchant V and B, opened in August 2023 outside the city center, is doing well. “For this first year, the numbers are only going up,” says Nicolas Ménager. For this employee of the franchise store, the “thousand references” of drinks and the evenings organized in the bar attract customers. Linked to the price of rent, lower than in the city center, the size of the place also explains this good start, according to him. The site has a “large car park which allows you to park right in front” and a vast interior space which attracts an “eclectic clientele”, ranging from “old timers” to families with strollers, including this group of people with a disability, in a wheelchair, who regularly comes to sit at a table without encountering space problems.

In Plénéour, “no neighbors for concerts”

Even more eccentric, the bar Orge & Houblon, located in the Kerganet area, in Ploneour-Lanvern, opened its doors a year ago. The choice to set up his business at such a distance from the center of Pont-l’Abbé was important for the manager, Fabrice Lossouarn. His criteria? “No neighborhood, for concerts, the possibility of parking easily, and a large surface area,” explains the one who welcomes many groups.

With us, customers can park easily. They come for a drink or two then go home.

In Concarneau, “a more professional clientele”

In Concarneau, the Colguen activity zone, at the entrance to the town, has three bars. Open since July 2021, Le Bek, backed by the Brasserie de Bretagne in Colguen, attracts a “much more professional clientele than a city center bar”, underlines Donatien de Procé, manager of the company’s bars and boutiques. “We also have more room to grow. In terms of sound, being outside the city allows for less disturbance,” he notes. At Bek, it is also possible to buy the brewery’s products. “Some therefore take the opportunity to stay for a drink, and vice versa,” emphasizes Donatien de Procé.

In Concarneau, “an afterwork spirit*”

A stone’s throw away, another brasserie and another bar, in Tri Martolod. “People who work don’t necessarily go to the city center to drink and eat,” notes Mikaël le Breton, the manager. On Thursday evening and Friday evening, we close later. We’re more in the afterwork spirit.” An offer that goes hand in hand with the presence of food trucks at lunchtime during the week.

At V and B, manager Fabien Decomps recalls “that it is a choice of the franchise to set up on the outskirts, in order to capture the flow of vehicles”. “With us, customers can park easily. They come for a drink or two then go home, and will not necessarily stay very late,” observes the manager. “The peak attendance arrives on Friday. On weekends, people come more to have an aperitif before going to a restaurant or in the evening,” he adds.