With the co-operation of the Gardai and city authorities, a number of the Cork's restaurateurs will close off one of Cork’s main thoroughfares, South Mall on June 18th.

Local businesses will serve full dinner to nearly 450 people seated at long tables along the street.

'The Cork Long Table Dinner' has ambitious to become an annual event. Clare Nash of Nash 19 Restaurant in Cork is one of the organisers and she spoke to Vincent Wall on Breakfast Business this morning.

Nash 19

She said that the event hopes to showcase "what's really fine about Cork" as 12 restaurants will bring fine dining to its streets.

"We feel that we needed to do something for the city and the region. We've been embarking on a huge initiative with tourism (with) a lot of collaboration with the different state agencies," she told Newstalk, adding that it hopes to "highlight the region by showcasing our producers."

More than 400 tickets have already been sold at €75 each. While local food producers will be paid full market price for their produce and floor (or street?) staff will be paid, the restaurateurs themselves won’t make a profit.

Any excess income generated will go into a fund for future events.

The participating restaurants and chefs are Ali’s Kitchen, Electric, Farmgate Café, Fenn’s Quay, Imperial Hotel, Isaacs Restaurant, Jacobs on the Mall, Jacques Restaurant, L’Atitude 51, Nash 19, Rebel Chilli, and The Rocket Man.

The sold out event is part of the Cork Mid Summer festival - the organisers encourage diners to, "wear creative hats."