The Bankers Cat, Leeds

I do like the Thornbridge Pubs and I can now see how the Colmore got its inspiration. This felt indentical - a nice, posh hotel bar vibe with excelllent beers. So much I could have gone for. Kelham Pale rider was selected.

Our visit was a day apart so obviously it is as Tris describes, there is a Victorian pub vibe but quite obviously not authentic, my Kelham Island Easy Rider was good even though some may say this also is no longer authentic.It is a pub I'd visit again if in town, the beers good.

With a pseudo Victorian interior – and a CAMRA citation for Outstanding Conversions and Restorations – stained glass windows influenced by Edward Burne-Jones’ work for Thornbridge Hall, the venue is situated a short walk from the station and my hotel – The Queen’s – on the edge of Leeds’s banging nightlife and LBGTQIA+ scene, unchanged since BF’s visit just over two months ago, likewise QP’s from last week, still with a preternaturally polite bouncer; Will nails the loo enigma in forensic detail, me too initially being confused by the identical array of doors, demarcated with small, stick men characters, one wearing the barely discernible depiction of a dress. With nairy a pink Stetson in sight, customers were slightly older, no students seemingly in evidence at the time of my 10.00 – midnight Friday visit. Cask amounted to Neptune Sea of Dreams, Kelham Island Easy Rider, then a Thornbridge sextet of Cat’s Eyes, Wye, Astryd, Lord Marples, Jaipur and new to me, Jaipur Noir at £5.20 a pint and very moreish too, served by one of two very friendly barmaids. Without a map and on a whim, this was by far the best cask outlet and pub that I could find in the immediate vicinity, a nice comfy place to relax; fancy the Slug & Lettuce or O’Neill’s next door?

Apparently a Victorian pub that become a bank and then converted very successfully back to a pub again by Thornbridge and Pivovar much more recently. Polished traditional style furniture and decoration with plenty of dark wood all around the central bar area. Wide range of the brewery's own beers - including Cat's Eyes dry Irish stout which was a new one for me - from the row of eight handpumps, plus plenty of craft keg offerings too.