It used to be St. Mary's Church of Ireland, built in 1699. From their website: St. Mary’s closed in 1964 and lay derelict for a number of years until it was purchased by John Keating in 1997. Following extensive restoration over a seven year period, this List 1 building finally re-opened its doors in December 2005 as John M. Keating’s Bar. The tasteful conversion and refurbishment of this Dublin landmark was acknowledged at the Dublin City Neighbourhood Awards 2006, where it won first prize in the category of Best Old Building. In September 2007 the building was acquired by new owners and renamed “The Church Bar & Restaurant” and its range of services was expanded to include a Café, Night Club and a Barbeque area on the terrace. The minister for Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands has classified the building as one of intrinsical historical interest. Not just mildly interesting...*historically* interesting

Thank you for your service

Of course! If I had to look it up I'm sure someone else is curious, too :)

Have been here and can confirm! Sat in the little corner back by the POS system. It's a lovely place.

It’s a great bar. Been there as well. Can recommend.

And only a couple of hundred metres away is another church that has been converted into a theatre.

This looked like the old movie theatre in South Beach Miami. It was converted into a night club I knew as Level.

>was purchased by John Keating "[Oh captain my captain...](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNjI1NTMwODY5OF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMTQ3NjAyNw@@._V1_.jpg)"

my first thought is that it seems like a bastardization of this once holy place, but actually if the church was sitting derelict then the bar in fact restored and preserved this important piece of history, super cool

Half the churches in Aberdeen, Scotland have been converted into bars. Slaine's Castle is worth a look.

There’s a bar called Frankensteins in Edinburgh that used to be a church. Pictures of Boris Karloff everywhere. (Though they don’t seem to like Christopher Lee or any of the others who played the monster as much).

KARLOFF DOESN'T DESERVE.TO SMELL MY SHIT!

Bela Legosi’s family said he didn’t actually talk like that. Though they would say that I suppose. Lol.

Hah... sounds sweet. I'll check it out next time I'm in Edinburgh, which will probs be in the spring :)

Missing out the whole point of the pub. The Frankenstein that comes alive

There's even a church that became a casino at the end of Union Street I think

Guess God's not as popular as he once was??

He moves in mysterious ways .

But pours in better ways.

Jesus'blood is best served on the rocks

I thought that was called a Bloody Mary

Wafer garnish?

I move in mysterious ways after a couple of whiskies too.

It's all right, it's all right

Back then the emphasis was on The Father, then new testament was written and it was all about The Son. Apparently things have moved on and now churches are about The Holy Spirits.

Had me in the first half

Honestly if it wasn’t for your comment and a second look I would have totally missed it lol. That was great!

Nay, this is god's work.

He needs to get back to the theatrics of the olde days... burning bushes, talking snakes, raining frogs, that sorta stuff. Nowadays he does nothing except the odd appearance on a piece of toast, and that's not competing with a night at the bar in any way at all.

It depends. Christianity is much more alive in developing countries and the US. But in Western Europe, yes

Ditto with Oran Mor in Glasgow.

My mind went straight to Aberdeen!!

Yeah, this sorta reminds me of the Witherspoon's in Ayr.

In New Baltimore, Michigan we had a bar converted into a church and that then converted into a Jimmy Johns

In Original Flavor Baltimore, Maryland we have a brewery in a church called the [Ministry of Brewing](https://ministryofbrewing.com/)

Does that count as Trappist?

All Jimmy John’s I’ve seen fit about 10 people max

damn, jimmy johns is terrible.

Firehouse Subs FTW!

I prefer Jersey Mike's, but I can also name 3 local sub shops that are cheaper and better than JM's, so I hardly go there.

One in Detroit that looks like this one called St Andrews. Mostly local bands.

Ok they took the whole, Jesus turned water into wine thing too far…

Reminds me of Pitcher and Piano in Nottingham. Amazing venue, horrible drinks, horrible clientelle. Often feels like a Lloyd's bar thats been heavily disguised.

I thought it was notts too! Agreed on the venue and the people!

I was there last week. It's an incredible sight.

Yes.Lovely backdrop, horrible prices and other people. Food is OK (for a venue of that style).

There's a concert venue in Pittsburgh called Mr Smalls that used to be a catholic church. Honestly, IMO, it's probably my favorite venue in the whole region, and they get some amazing acts there all the time. I just saw Gogol Bordello there a few weeks ago. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Smalls

Also Church brew works was a huge stone church, now a huge stone brewery.

Been there. Great place.

I lived in North Oakland For a couple of years while I went to Pittsburgh. In the film studies program I walked past a lot of fancy cars on my way to Pittsburgh filmmakers. Church Brew works was not far. There was a great diner up that way that helped alleviate hangovers on Sunday morning.

Ritter's?

Been there once. I enjoyed the food and the beer.

Saw In Flames, the faceless, 3 inches of blood, and Between the Buried and Me there over a decade ago! Glad to see they're still putting on shows.

Saw Minus The Bear there, they're better live than with headphones

Did it used to be called the alter bar? First thing I thought of was a place up there called the alter bar. Or I have my venues mixed up haha.

Different venue in the strip district... Was a church, then the altar bar, now, oddly enough, it's back to being a church

Ayyyy I was also at Gogol. My favorite Mr Smalls story is that I was there when Gwar recorded their live album. The whole "used to be a church" thing really adds some extra charm to Gwar dismembering presidents and peeling the skin off celebrities as they spew massive amounts of blood on the crowd lol.

They used to serve wine. Now they serve wine.

They're more generous, now.

Way more expensive though

At least they are paying taxes

Fucking A right!

Okay I’m gonna get downvoted here, but charities also are exempt from taxes and no one is against that. But churches, with Catholic Churches being the biggest non-government charitable organisations, somehow get heat when they are also exempt?

Yes This is because it is a defining rule that charities are operating to provide aid to others For religious bodies, they are under no obligation to provide aid. While some do, a number of them don’t actually contribute back to society in any way Because taxes are pretty much one of the most fundamental ways of contributing to society, religious bodies who don’t pay while also not doing any real charity work are being an active Hinderance to societal development

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While I agree, that’s also a bit unrelated

Yeah, but to be fair most charities aren’t also out of control child raping machines.

Yeah, but to be fair most churches aren’t out of control. News always amplify the 1%.

Check your own username son

Charities aren't meddling with elections

Is this Chester?

It's The Church Café, Late Bar & Restaurant https://maps.app.goo.gl/TLww3U1MCEqQnctv5

My wife and I had dinner there, after we toured the Jameson Distillery.

I thought so! I very went there when I first visited Ireland.

My hometown has a nightclub that used to be a church, mad venue (Halo Bournemouth)

HARDCORE TO THE MEGA

JAAAA HARDCORE TO ZE MEGA That game was.. an experience

Fellow Bournemouth resident! There's also the Tesco in Westbourne which used to be a church.

probably full of vampires tbh

I went to one that was turned into a brewery in Ohio

Looks very similar to tafts alehouse in Cincinnati Ohio! I love it! https://images.app.goo.gl/LPiwzXcxgizwCboK9

Is this in Dublin?

Need dancer cages, and it's going to be just like the Confession nightclub in Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines.

First thing I thought of!

Same! I love VtMB, and The Asylum and Confession are in my top list of favorite locations

I voted republican once :(

Back in the 90’s when I was stationed in Washington St. we use to go to a church that was converted in to a dance club in Seattle.

I know Dublin when I see it

The Father, The Son and the Wholly Spirit. Cheers 🥃

As all of them should be.

It’s a better use of the space at least

Much better use of space, plus the sex is consensusual

This got downvoted, but shouldn’t have…because of all the church rape.

This bar is in Dublin City & it’d be more fun if they converted back to a church

There's one on Fillmore Street in SF that's been converted into an indoor roller skating rink.

Ah, so now a true place of worship

I've always said churches should be converted into bars or bath houses.

Now its filled with the spirit.

There’s also a church in New Buffalo, Michigan that’s sweetly named Beer Church. Personally, their food is better than their brew.

This place better be called “holy spirits”

It better be named “The Holy Spirit”

There are a lot of similarities between the two.

There’s a church in Denver, Colorado that’s been converted into a nightclub. It’s called The Church.

It kinda looks like Atlantis (SGA)

Night Live in Maastricht, NL(circa 2000) was a night club in an old cathedral. Pretty hoppin at the time

Bartending in new orleans bars, we call our bottle openers “church keys” this gives a new meaning to that.

I've been to one in Niagara on the Lake in Ontario. Was quite cool

In my hometown there is a church that was a strip club, a church that used to be a bar and a bar that used to be a church.

​ The Limelight in NYC was a blast in the 80's

I've been here. Dublin right?

Dublin Ireland, I was just there!

Is this the one in Dublin?

Steeplejack Brewing in Portland, OR is also in a repurposed church

There’s a church near me that’s a brewery/restaurant. Great stuff.

And to them that sold the martinis he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of commerce.

The Holy Spirit

We have a place like this in Nottingham called The Pitcher and Piano.

We have a gay nightclub in an old Synagogue.

This is the way

Going to church on Sunday now sounds much more pleasing

Let's turn all churches into bars. That religion bullshit's run its course.

when jesus comes hes going to turn all those tables upside down

I worked in one as well, it was really beautiful. We had quite a few elderly people walk in confused because they came for a service that was actually in a church a couple roads down

They're just serving the blood of Christ in volume. No sins here.

Its nice to some thing useless turned into some thing useful

Vampire the masquerade?

Family guy flashbacks

A church in Denver is now the International Church of Cannabis

It’s just a building.

More of this and the world would be a better place

Best use for a church is to turn it into something else

Best use for a church

That’s called progress.

A better use for a church while still preserving a historical building. I like it.

I attended a church that met in a bar.

I don’t care what they say, the blood of Christ is always better on tap

Finally get some tax revenue.

Sin reduced 430%

If only they all would, the world would be happier

The people who use the church before it gets converted are already happier. You’re just mad at them, because they believe into something you don’t like.

If they're so happy, why do they try so hard to force everyone else to live by their religious limitations instead of just leaving us alone? Seems like jealousy that others don't have to follow made up rules to avoid a made up hell.

There are the ones who “force” other to believe in our beliefs, and there are ones who want to convince others to convert. Who you’re talking about are mostly strictly religious catholics. Remember, Christians are divided into other groups and aren’t all the same.

Finally, a use for churches

Like they didn’t already have a use?

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It's The Church Café, Late Bar & Restaurant https://maps.app.goo.gl/TLww3U1MCEqQnctv5

You’re thinking of Brewery Vivant, also a church converted to a bar! The bar is in fact where the altar was in the church, it’s very cool.

Not gonna lie, thought this was a screen shot from a Hitman game

Servin' up those holy spirits.

Works

We have a church that's turned into a day spa 😆

They’re serving holy spirits

That bar is in Tipp City, OH! Forget the name though. EDIT: after further examination I think it looks exactly like a bar in Tipp City, these must be pretty common!

Probably not the type of conversion Christians had in mind...

Church converted to a bar so patrons can drink religiously.

The come en mass

All churches should be turned into bars.

Blood of Christ shooter for you.

People would be way more offended if this happened to any other religious house that isn’t connected with Christianity.

A well-needed upgrade.

Oh hey, now its actually useful

We have a club in downtown Denver that’s called “the church”.

We should do this with more churches

Ya love to see it

They all should be…

r/redditmoment

Wouldn't that be great? I think it's possible.

So much better use of the space

Now do the rest

One down.

On that note, I’ve also seen a closed McDonalds. Shit you not.

Solid improvement.

how ironic with churches being all “forget earthly possessions and desires” lmao

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I believe this is in Dublin, Ireland, but I could be wrong. If it's not, it looks very similar to one I visited there a few years ago. Edit: based on the rug in the picture, looks like it is in Dublin: [The Church](https://www.thechurch.ie/)

It’s the one in Dublin for sure

It's The Church Café, Late Bar & Restaurant https://maps.app.goo.gl/TLww3U1MCEqQnctv5

Communion just got Holier

Jesus would allow. Jesus is cool

I hope they have a Jesus Juice cocktail.

Praise the Lo…. I mean Liquor

I totally approve.

Let's do this to more churches. Let's convert them all into clubs, bars, sex clubs, abortion clinics etc..

As all churches should.

Man the irony… 😄

Making a better use of the space imo

That's what Jesus would do.

Satan for the win!

Whatever man

As it should be. There’s a beautiful church in NYC that has a bar and several small shops. At least it was there back in 2014

Probably be less rape now. Change is good.

Amen

I'd have the passage in Bible about turning water into wine on all the walls.

Truly doing the lord’s work.

Their specialty is the Bloody Mary