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Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie

The owners of Coppers are sitting on an absolute treasure trove of cash

We’re in the wrong business.

THE OWNERS OF iconic Dublin nightspot Copper Face Jack’s are now sitting on a cash pile worth more than €50 million.

The latest accounts for the company behind the Harcourt St club, Breanagh Catering, revealed the extent to which the venue continues to be a bona fide money-generating machine.

In the year to 31 January, 2015 it raked in a gross profit of more than €10.4 million, although the total was slightly down on the previous year’s total.

After-tax profits at the home of the coveted Coppers gold card were more than €4 million – or roughly €11,000 per day – pushing its cash pool in the bank to nearly €51 million.

Coppers1

The average number of employees was unchanged from the 2014 figure at 193, but the wage bill was slashed 11% to €3.5 million.

Meanwhile owners Paula and Cathal Jackson, an ex-garda, continue to roll out innovations at the the club – last year introducing Coppers-branded underwear available only to prizewinners.

Coppers

There was also a winter ski trip to Andorra for Coppers diehards and the venue flirted with technology via click-and-collect-style drink and food orders.

READ: A group of Cork students have designed an app that tells if a drink has been spiked >

READ: Supermac’s to open six new outlets this year >

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43 Comments
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:30 AM

    Most profitable cattle mart in Ireland.

    604
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    Mute John Mc Carthy
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:49 AM

    Do the IFA take a cut

    212
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    Mute mcgoo
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:20 AM

    Think they have a levy on shifting in there alright John. Very profitable.

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    Mute Cowboys Ted
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:23 AM

    Horrible club, full of mostly horrible people, and horrible music.

    How it is as popular as it is is literally beyond me

    #UnpopularOpinion

    209
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    Mute Matt Connolly
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:30 AM

    “corkage”

    18
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    Mute Dan Burrows
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:59 AM

    It known as slapper face jacks for a reason

    62
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    Mute Dan Burrows
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    Jan 13th 2016, 12:00 PM

    It’s known as slapper face jacks for a reason, that brings in the desperate country fellas perfect business model, tramps and halfwits with money

    73
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    Mute Mick Mouse
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    Jan 13th 2016, 6:53 PM

    If you can’t lift her…

    29
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    Mute For O'Duffy
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:31 AM

    And that’s just the money they’ve declared.

    233
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    Mute Shane from Harlequin
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:27 AM

    I love this story. There’s an urban myth that they make 2 million squid a year from the cloakroom… Coppers – an institution.

    214
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    Mute John Joe Collins
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:37 AM

    The place was recession proof. And a shite hole!

    241
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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:52 AM

    Once got talking to an American in a pub in Berlin, he was saying he couldn’t wait to visit Ireland and see where his relatives came from in Mayo, see the book of Kells and then go to coppers..

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    Mute Colm Durkan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:28 AM

    It’s a 12% decline on 2014. Most businesses would see that as a threat

    76
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    Mute Sternn
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:52 AM

    Who would have thought being the only place in Ireland that can stay open until 5am on the weekends might bring in a few bob.

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    Mute Inanimate Carbon Rod
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    Jan 13th 2016, 1:20 PM

    And who would have thought the owner who gets to open till 5am unlike other venues happens to be an ex-Garda? This nightclub gets preference over all others

    128
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    Mute DMurph
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:15 AM

    So they cut their wage bill, and post record profits. Very generous.

    86
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    Mute Teddington
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:41 AM

    The didn’t post record profits though, they’re actually down on 2014?

    33
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    Mute Richard Barrett
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:07 AM

    I remember going to coppers in 2003/2004 and it was a great spot, I think it’s become a bit too gimmicky and contrived since, holidays, underpants etc. It used to be a bit unpredictable and you could meet all sorts in there.In recent years it has become stereotyped as a place for culchies in gaa jerseys to get hammered and listen to cheesey music (mundy, Galway girl etc).

    77
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    Mute dowthebow
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:12 AM

    Did you know about the holidays and underpants before reading the article?

    43
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    Mute Richard Barrett
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:19 AM

    I knew about the holidays. My point is that years ago in my experience, coppers was a bit unpredictable with regard to who you’d meet and the music played. In recent years the layout changed too. I remember the something similar happened in rain nightclub in the portobello pub, it used to be great until it got done up. Perhaps I’m just older and more cynical too though :)

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    Mute Steve stevenage
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    Jan 13th 2016, 12:31 PM

    That’s because the only people who go there are culchies in GAA jerseys to get hammer and listen to cheesy music (and some nurses/teachers too)

    30
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    Mute Jonny Lennon
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:37 AM

    Wouldn’t be seen dead in the place, cringe factor x100,having said that you have to say they have pulled off something amazing here

    74
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    Mute Joe Travers
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:41 AM

    True jonny, there is always something pulled off in coppers.

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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:45 AM

    Why say the first bit?? Could you not just say the second part of your message.. Are you worried you would be judged by others for looking like you go there..

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    Mute Teddington
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:51 AM

    I’ve been there a few times and I have to say I’ve never enjoyed it but that’s not a sleight on coppers, I hate all nightclubs in general. I have spent my life as the stereotypical old guy complaining about the noise and crowds.

    85
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    Mute dowthebow
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:09 AM

    Must be from South Dublin

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    Mute Sean Duignan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:29 AM

    Incredible

    62
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    Mute ManUMan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:38 AM

    Great spot for the nurses.. Monday nights would never fail me lol

    43
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    Mute Joe Keogh
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    Jan 13th 2016, 1:47 PM

    It used to be the National on monday nights The Rondezvous club, gone many years ago .

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    Mute Mark Hallon
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:34 AM

    They play bad 90′s pop music, seriously, without a hint of irony – went in once ONLY once

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    Mute For O'Duffy
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:37 AM

    There’s no doubting it’s a highly tacky and cringey establishment. Fools and their money and all that.

    49
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    Mute Mark Ryan
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:44 AM

    I’d say Cathal Jackson will be very upset when he sees your comments…..

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    Mute Dominic Hearns
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:48 AM

    Listen, O’Fuffy,,, you’re only jealous, another of life’s begrudgers. It’s a free country, no one is forcing you to go there !!!
    So,,, jog on ….
    Best of luck to Cathal Jackson,,, another decent Ballinakill man !!!

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    Mute For O'Duffy
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    Jan 13th 2016, 10:55 AM

    I am as big a capitalist as you’re likely to meet, I don’t begrudge him any success in fact I’m delighted for him and his employees. I’m just saying that to a person of a more discerning taste Coppers would be a tacky place but as long as there’s still a demand for lukewarm pints, County colours nights and Mundys Galway girl then they’ll continue to print money and good for them.

    70
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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Jan 13th 2016, 12:26 PM

    You must get a few red thumbs automatically for that name For O’Duffy!

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    Mute the asian nightmare
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    Jan 16th 2016, 9:48 PM

    Yeah, no night out is complete without a bit of irony. God I hate hipsters!

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    Mute Richard Griffin
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:08 AM

    What a sh@%ho1e

    39
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    Mute just readin
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    Jan 13th 2016, 2:04 PM

    I dont want to suggest that they are genius , but the seem to have figured out that business paradigm where you lower your prices , which increases your customers and then…. wait for it…. you make more profit …

    Its a concept that seems little understood by many businesses in ireland

    27
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    Mute Keith Masterson
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    Jan 13th 2016, 5:29 PM

    Love it or hate it you got to hand it to them, success from the bottom up.

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Jan 13th 2016, 2:15 PM

    And still the floors are sticky

    12
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    Mute jack frost
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    Jan 13th 2016, 11:58 AM

    Sweet gee. That’s a lot of cash to be sitting on. ( Piles )

    12
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    Mute Anton Good
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    Jan 13th 2016, 1:31 PM

    I was never in coppers where the hell is it…..is it beside croke park?

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    Mute James Gavin
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    Jan 13th 2016, 7:20 PM

    Fair play to them – clearly some people appreciate their offering. It’s not my gig but why hate on it!

    8
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