The Barrowboy & Banker, SE1

This Fullers Ale and Pie House, located opposite London Bridge station and the new Shard development, is a bank conversion typical of this particular chain. Formerly the Nat West bank, the interior retains a number of bold features from the original building. The servery, with a lovely curved bar counter and integral lamps, is positioned in the centre of the right hand wall, creating distinct drinking areas either side. Opposite the bar is a wide sweeping staircase which leads up to a gallery area with additional seating, which is useful during peak times when the ground floor can get extremely crowded. There is a lot of dark wood throughout and there are a few bits of partitioning towards the rear of the room with etched glass panels. Seating is mostly of the standard table and chair variety, although there are banquettes at the front of the room and numerous drinking ledges. Music played in the background during my stay and there was a TV on showing muted French Open tennis. A mural above the bar depicts an epic looking battle scene, the relevance of which was lost on me, but on the left hand side of the pub there are two Hogarth-style murals depicting the ‘Idle Barrowboy’ and ‘Industrious Banker’, which perhaps tells you all you need to know about which of the two the pub is pitched at. Further evidence of the target market came when I ordered a pint of the Fullers Hope and Glory and was charged a whopping £4.10. Other Fullers beers were available including London Pride, ESB, Discovery, Chiswick and Summer Ale. The service, as has always been the case when I’ve previously visited, was rubbish, with long waits at the busy bar whilst the staff chat amongst themselves, fail to keep track of who is next and get confused about what they are supposed to be getting you. For a long time this pub was a bit of an in-joke after several failed attempts to drink here – twice due to private parties, twice due to being ignored by the bar staff and once due to building work – but now that I’ve managed to get a pint in here I’m not all that keen to come back, especially given the better (and cheaper) alternatives nearby.

At the southern end of London Bridge is The Barrowboy and Banker, a former bank premises converted in 1996 by Fullers into one of their chain of Ale and Pie houses. A long curved bar counter serves a largish ground floor area and an upstairs mezzanine accessed by a wide imposing open staircase. There’s much wood panelling, screens and a typically large and impressive chandelier. Various murals depicting a barrowboy and banker theme are worthy of note. In marked contrast to some nearby pubs, there’s a rather impersonal atmosphere to the place, although the usual gaggle of European staff do appear to be trying. The pub is dominated by City workers and prices are correspondingly high. The usual range of Fullers beers are served. Maldenman will be interested to know that the £ 4 pint has now arrived – in the form of my recent pint of Bengal Lancer, which, incidentally, wasn’t particularly good. Apart from the prices, there’s nothing inherently wrong with the place, but there’s much better options very close at hand

Typical but grand Fullers house opposite London Bridge station and the new 'Shard' landscape London building. The staircase to the mezzanine takes centre stage. Large curved bar and the usual stools around the drinking shelf to the walls. Sketches of Olde Londone. Also round the corner from Southwark Cathedral. Good quality beer, but at £3.90 its the most expensive ordinary pint in an ordinary pub I have ever had!

This is one of a number of bank conversions which are now Fullers Ale and Pie houses. I'm assuming the name is derived from a mix of the previous use and the proximity to nearby Borough Market. The bar is central, there is a mix of most types of seating. Many original fixtures remain but there is some clearly newer wood panelling and screenwork. Decor includes various murals on the Banker and Barrowboy theme plus a large one of what I took to be The Charge of the Light Brigade. There are also several portraits of long gone people and I spotted a framed set of plans for nearby London Bridge. The large chandelier is certainly impressive and is perhaps best viewed from the upper gallery. It seems the gallery is available for seperate hire as posters were being put up while I was there. Fullers beers naturally, Chiswick, Pride, Discovery and ESB were on and there was the keg version of London Porter. My ESB was served in the branded stem glass but was a rather steep £3.70; the £4 pint cannot be far off. The pub is handy for London Bridge station but there are for me better pubs nearby and indeed I have been in superior pubs of the type.

Extremely busy at around 6.30PM, this is a solid if unspectacular Fullers' Ale & Pie House that served a good pint of Discovery at the right temperature (i.e. not chilled like lager, like some establishments serve it). It has a pleasant and atmospheric feel and I think it is highly likely I'll return at some point. Would be nice if they got the odd guest on though.

Randomness Guide to London - Barrowboy And Banker entry

Randomness Guide to London - Barrowboy And Banker entry

Very good conversion of a former Nat West Bank into a Fullers Ale and Pie house, with the most spectacular retained features being the ornate pillars, open staircase and original chandeliers as mentioned below. This is then complemented by plenty of period pictures and commissioned murals to add to the décor. As also eluded to the positive point of this pub is the decent quality of the Fullers range on offer, with the negative being the price levels which are at the upper end of the city price scale. Its location opposite London Bridge station makes it an ideal location for a pint before catching the train home or for a first pint when emerging from the station before moving further into Borough. Used it for this purpose again last week and the Pride and Discovery were on good form.

This place is like a grand hotel lobby with a sweeping staircase leading to some upstairs seating. The full Fullers range was available including the brain-tonking 8.3% Golden Pride. Standard lagers were also available alongside Peroni. There was plenty of staff who all seemed pleasant enough and there was a reasonable atmosphere for such a large pub. I liked it in here and would go back again if in the area.