On Friday, 30th May and Friday, 20th June, four popular local businesses with a café offering – The Coffee Box, Il Forno, Loaf’d, and The Bare Food Café – will stay open late into the night.
This move comes as a result of Night Moves, a new cultural programme led and produced by Droichead Arts Centre, curated by singer-songwriter SJ McArdle, in collaboration with Drogheda’s Night-Time Economy Adviser and supported by the Purple Flag partnership group.
Each venue will host a free, curated evening of live music, poetry, spoken word, and good conversation, creating welcoming, relaxed spaces where people can enjoy the town differently. These cafés are championing a more diverse night-time offer and helping trial what a more balanced evening economy might look like.
The move comes as a direct result of Louth County Council’s Drogheda by Night 2025 public consultation the first wave of results of which beginning to take shape with some early patterns already emerging.
One message that stands out is that people want more choice in how they spend their evenings. Over 73% of respondents (908 out of 1,238) said they would like to see more late-opening cafés, while 670 said they would welcome more non-alcoholic or alcohol-light options in the town centre at night.
The consultation has had a fantastic response that shows how much people care about Drogheda’s future and about creating a town that works for more people, later in the day. Rather than leave that feedback sitting on a shelf, a group of Drogheda partners are already acting on it.
“This is an inspiring step forward, and it’s coming straight from what people told us,” said Mark Davies, Night-Time Economy Adviser for Drogheda at Louth County Council. “It’s not about replacing anything – our pubs and bars are a vital part of Drogheda’s nightlife – it’s about adding to the mix and creating the kind of town centre where more people want to spend time.”
The idea builds on a smaller trial during Night Moves Culture Night 2024, when two cafés opened late with artistic performances. One, Il Forno, hosted a pop-up opera night, and people stayed long after the last note was sung. The other, The Coffee Box, has continued to trial later events.
Collette Farrell, Director of Droichead Arts Centre, said: “There’s something special about seeing familiar places take on a new energy after dark. These events are about working with local businesses and artists to bring warmth, creativity, connection, and a sense of possibility to the town at night.”
Drogheda is one of a small number of towns nationally piloting new approaches to the Night-Time Economy through a government-funded initiative. Across Ireland, Night-Time Economy Advisers are testing ways to help towns adapt and thrive between 6pm and 6am. For many, cafés are proving to be key spaces – flexible, familiar, and full of potential.
The Night Moves cafés are supported by the Drogheda Purple Flag group – a vibrant local partnership that brings together businesses, artists and public sector teams. It includes hospitality venues, Drogheda and District Chamber, Love Drogheda BID, Droichead Arts Centre, and various departments within Louth County Council, who host and support the work of the Night-Time Economy Adviser. This energetic collaboration is helping shape a more welcoming, diverse and inclusive town centre after dark.
“We’re not just testing ideas, we’re seeing real signs that a more varied evening economy will benefit everyone,” said Mark Davies. “Drogheda is helping lead the way, showing that when you listen to people, back local businesses, and bring in creativity, good things happen. We’d love people to come out, enjoy the cafés, and be part of it.”
Organisers hope the model will inspire other venues and help lay the foundation for a more vibrant, sustainable evening culture – one that perhaps feels a little more eclectic and continental, where people meet to eat, chat, listen to music, and enjoy their town well into the evening.
Night Moves is an innovative and dynamic programme designed to provide new and engaging night-time cultural experiences across Drogheda and East Meath. Produced by Droichead Arts Centre and delivered with a range of curators, promoters, and alternative venues, it is supported and funded by the Night-Time Economy Adviser in Drogheda, Louth County Council, and the Arts Council.
The programme encapsulates a shared vision of expanding cultural offerings, fostering partnerships, and creating diverse opportunities for artists and audiences. Other upcoming Night Moves events include Night Tones and The Stowaway Sessions in May and June.
More information about events under the Night Moves programme is available at www.droichead.com.
Results of the Drogheda by Night 2025 survey will shortly be available at https://droghedabynight.commonplace.is.
To get involved as a late-opening café, contact mark.davies@louthcoco.ie.
