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The former Baptist church on Lower Abbey St

JD Wetherspoon will turn this former church into a massive Dublin city-centre pub

The company is expected to spend €3 million-plus on the fit-out.

A FORMER BAPTIST church on Dublin’s northside will become part of a massive pub complex when JD Wetherspoon opens its first venue in the capital’s city centre.

The UK chain bought the one-time place of worship on Lower Abbey St at an auction for €1.475 million – more than three times the property’s price guide of €400,000 – from the government’s Office of Public Works.

The company will now spend an estimated €3 million-plus on a fit-out to turn the building, which was being used as a rehearsal space for the Abbey Theatre, and an adjoining complex into a new venue.

JD Wetherspoon bought the former Permanent TSB branch next door for €1.5 million earlier in the year.

Bank The former bank branch Google Maps Google Maps

The two buildings have a combined floorspace of over 10,000 square feet and would be the first Wetherspoon outlet in the CBD, although the pub giant is also in the process of developing the Camden Hall Hostel on Dublin’s Camden St.

It has already opened four pubs in Dublin and a fifth in Cork, with further launches expected in Waterford and Carlow.

The company, which turned over £1.5 billion (€2.1 billion) and had 951 pubs in its portfolio for the 2014-15 financial year, previously said it plans to open at least 30 venues across the Republic.

READ: Most of the big beer brands the world drinks will soon come from just one company >

READ: Leo Varadkar has a plan to put calorie counts on beer bottles >

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    Mute Hughiealonso
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:16 PM

    Can’t stand the tagline ‘don’t cook, just eat’. Cooking is being looked down upon when it’s much cheaper, tastier and better for you. People need to be educated about cooking from a young age.

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    Mute skeyes
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    Mar 17th 2015, 7:52 PM

    You work hard, you play hard…sometimes you wanna just eat! No guilt necessary!

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    Mute Alan Kennedy
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    Mar 18th 2015, 9:51 AM

    I love cooking, but I also love justeat.

    I really don’t think a website service or a tagline is going to make much difference to lazy unmotivated fatties who can’t be bothered cooking.

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    Mute thefunnyman
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:23 PM

    Isn’t technology fantastic,if you touch your phone in the right place a pizza will arrive at your front door.

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    Mute Joe Sullivan
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    Mar 17th 2015, 11:31 PM

    They take 25 percent and dont pay for two months. Takeaway owners are leaving them in large nunbers. This is more rubbish concealed advertising by the journal and a paid poster above.

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    Mute Bilbo Baggins
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    Mar 18th 2015, 7:58 AM

    They take 11%

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    Mute ohaimhirghin
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:27 PM

    Just back for mc Sh”t in maynooth. Tried one of those new quarter pounder burgers. Horrific is all I can say. Should have brought it back in,but like most irish people I just said I won’t be coming here again.

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    Mute Conor McEneaney
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Anyone else notice this new thing where eating copious amounts of fast food is seen as “manly” and a thing of respect? It seems to be common in young males, such as college students, etc.

    There is nothing manly about eating bacon sandwiches everyday or ordering takeaway food more than once a week. In fact, it’s usually just overweight nerds looking for quick release endorphins.

    Not to mention if you indulge in food like this often, you are gluttonous and therefore by default, evil.

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    Mute David Geraghty
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    Mar 17th 2015, 7:02 PM

    Someone get this fella a snickers

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    Mute Ben Redline
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    Mar 17th 2015, 10:10 PM

    Take a bow David – that was a classic

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    Mute Terry O'Dowd
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    Mar 17th 2015, 11:58 PM

    I hate everything and everyone too.
    Can I get some green thumbs, please?

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    Mute Gash
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:29 PM

    Starving

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:24 PM

    I avoid any place I see their sign tbh

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Mar 17th 2015, 5:47 PM

    Pig food

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    Mute Pauliebhoy
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    Mar 17th 2015, 5:52 PM

    You can’t order through here Padraig , you need to download the Just Eat app and search for Pig Food, best of luck .

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    Mute Pádraig O'hEidhin
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    Mar 17th 2015, 5:54 PM

    You’re funny.

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    Mute Sam
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    Mar 17th 2015, 7:03 PM

    Haha paulie well done on that one

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    Mute James Galvin
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    Mar 18th 2015, 10:16 AM

    As former Just-Eat.ie MD, I am not surprised by these results in Ireland. I left in 2011, but as of May this year I am launching a rival http://www.Marvin.ie which will be fairer to both restaurants and customers. Restaurants will only be charged 7% instead of 12% and consumers can earn FREE meals based on a coffee-shop loyalty reward system. I am here to compete and I would love to show Just-Eat that they are not untouchable.

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    Mute James Galvin
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    Mar 18th 2015, 10:17 AM

    *Like a coffee shop loyalty reward system

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    Mute Shanti
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    Mar 18th 2015, 8:29 PM

    Best of luck!

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    Mute Fiyoyo
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    Mar 21st 2015, 10:02 AM

    Any app for this or just a website

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    Mute Voteno Voteno
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    Mar 17th 2015, 5:59 PM

    Hi ciaran
    Welcome to the journal

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    Mute Shane Walsh
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    Mar 17th 2015, 6:09 PM

    Cianan?

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    Mute Aurelio Mizzoni
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    Mar 18th 2015, 1:10 AM

    Thy take 12% and pay every 2weeks stil a lot of cash for small corner shops

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    Mute Maurice
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    Mar 18th 2015, 6:03 PM

    Eating shit food is an unfortunate part of Irish culture. Lard-ass mentality.

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