Big-city food on Bridge Street

Since opening its doors in December 2025, The Burnt Pig on Bridge Street has quickly established itself as one of Cootehill's most talked-about venues, and one of Cavan's standout food and entertainment destinations.

Founded by brother-and-sister team Peter Fisher and Louise Smith, the business has attracted customers from across Ireland, earning praise for its chef-inspired street food, vibrant sports bar atmosphere and modern approach to custmer experience.

Peter, a professional chef with more than 20 years of experience, has worked in restaurants across Ireland and Spain; while Louise has spent almost three decades managing bars and hospitality venues.

“We saw a gap in the market,” explains Peter, adding that people are travelling more than ever, gaining exposure to “different food experiences and they know what quality looks like".

The Burnt Pig specialises in chef-style street food, including smash burgers, hot dogs, loaded fries and a range of other modern comfort dishes.

Despite the contemporary food truck menu, Peter remains committed to sourcing produce locally wherever possible. All beef used in the restaurant is supplied by the award-winning Crowe's butchers in Cavan, supporting local farmers and reducing food miles.

“It's farm-to-fork food,” he says. “The beef travels only a short distance before it reaches our kitchen. That's something we're really proud of.”

Born in Birmingham but raised in Cootehill from the age of seven years, Peter spent 11 years in Spain operating two restaurants before returning to Ireland after the Covid pandemic. Having also lived in Dublin for several years, he believed Cootehill was ready for a fresh hospitality concept.

The business has also embraced social media marketing to reach new audiences, especially younger customers. Visits from food influencers, including hugely popular Dublin-based content creator Conor Ryan, have helped showcase The Burnt Pig to his tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok.

Among the many positive customer reviews, diners have described The Burnt Pig as offering “the nicest burger I've ever had” and praised both the food quality and welcoming atmosphere.

Alongside its food offering, The Burnt Pig has established itself as a hub for watching live sport and entertainment, showing games on big screens, while also hosting karaoke and music at the weekends.

Peter believes customers are increasingly looking for experiences rather than simply a meal or a drink.

“Years ago, people might have gone out just for a few drinks,” he said. “Now they want food, entertainment, sport and a social experience all in one place.”

The Burnt Pig has also introduced several innovations to the local hospitality scene, including wine on tap, a touch reflecting Peter's years working abroad.

While delighted with the response so far, Peter is clear about what will dtermine the business's long-term success.

“Consistency is everything,” he states. “You can't stand still in this industry. You have to keep evolving because customer expectations keep changing.”

The Burnt Pig opens daily from 2pm, and offers dine-in and takeaway options, a dedicated children's menu, live sport, entertainment and a modern street-food dining experience.