The Counting House, Bank, EC3

Sister pub of the Old Bank of England, both are former banks carefully converted by Fullers into pubs and retain their opulence. On entering, the sheer size of the place strikes you – a massive island bar, second floor terracing and several function rooms to the rear, clad in dark polished wood and marble, punctuated by large chandeliers. The most magnificent feature is the huge domed skylight. Ale is from the Fullers range, I spotted six different ones spread over 14 pumps on my visit and my Seafarers and HSB both went down well, standard City prices, £3,40+ p/p. Clientèle are inevitably City types, along with a small smattering of tourists. We took a seat next to the main door by the huge window and admired the intricate floor mosaic and the war memorial dedicated to the staff who lost their lives in WWI. It’s well-worth a visit for the interior. If choosing between this place and the Old Bank of England, I’d plump for this one.