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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Counting House, Bank, EC3
EC3
EC3V 3PD
Pub Type
Fuller'sReviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Counting House
Fuller's pub in a grand building that was once a bank. You enter into a large ceilinged room with a central island bar and some nice mosaic floor tiling on the right-hand side. Apart from the main room, there are also a couple of smaller rooms to the rear which apparently were bank managers' offices.
On the bar, there is a good selection of cask ales from the Fuller's range - Fuller's London Pride, ESB & Oliver's Island & Gale's Seafarers are regular beers. Guests during our visit were Fuller's Old Winter Ale, Fuller's/Five Points Cobbled Lane & Dark Star Hophead. Keg beers of significance were Brick Peckham Pale, Siren Lumina & Beavertown Neck Oil. There were also some Fuller's Black Cab pumps, but they had sold out of this and could only offer cans of Guinness 0.0 or bottles of the Black Cab. We saw some stout drinkers walk out in disgust! Although, the dispense of the cans of Guinness from a rather funky machine on the bar did entertain us briefly.
With its Cornhill location, you can expect this place to be busy during the week and indeed it was standing room only on our early Friday evening visit. Prices are on the higher side too, but it does get a listing in the Good Beer Guide.
I would say that this pub is worthy of a visit, for its architectural merits as well as for any fans of Fuller's beers, of which you will find the full range and more.
On 15th December 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The Counting House
Which came first - this or Birmingham's Old Joint Stock. Both cavernous bank conversations, Fullers houses, with opulent domed ceilings. Check out the 1762 Cornhill mosiac on the floor, when you are tired of looking up.
Loads of bench seating and tv screens with the Euros on. Not going to mind, my predication of France's first match has won me the easiest free pint of Ashai I have ever had. Got two weeks to find another Fullers house. I'm back in the Midlands, so may be the Old Joint Stock :-)
Impressive place to drink.
On 20th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Counting House
There’s an excellent description on CAMRA’s websites and some of the wood does look good if not all original, likewise the alabaster wall cladding and sizeable acreage of mosaic floor, viewable on Fuller’s website, with a naff mural and salmon pink coffered ceiling (see photo) and gallery, closing at 9.00pm and accessible only to diners.
However, the pub has deafening acoustics; even when only around 20% full, my smartwatch’s dB 100 alarm frequently chirped into life. At least on this occasion – earlier in the week – it was easier to get to the bar, with favourable cask options in the form of Dark Star’s Red Dwarf and Hophead on good form, but with awful pricing, a pint and pint of Asahi coming home at a barely believable £14.45; a second round comprising halves of the above, plus Neck Oil relieving me of £11.25.
This may be a must-visit pub, but it’s not a place to linger, which is why I stand by my previous grade, given that we are all entitled to apply our own criteria.
On 18th April 2024
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Counting House
Back in the other evening and good to find this fantastic pub in rude health. Reassuringly busy with the afterwork crowd and all the handpumps on the go with a decent range of Ales from the Fullers stables and the few we tried were all in good form.
If you want to relax and focus more on the great interior then visit mid afternoon. If you want to experience the joy de vie of city workers relaxing after a hard days making money then come in the evening. If you're not interested in either of those and the type of person that would rate this fantastic pub below a 5, then don't come at all.
On 31st August 2023
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2236 recommendations about 2098 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Rex Rattus left this review about The Counting House
This is a magnificent old bank building, now operated by Fuller's, with their ales on of course, and of course they do food. I had a swift half of their seasonal Jack Frost, at £2.90.
This pub is reminiscent of the Old Bank of England, with similar grandeur and with period features surviving. It's well described before, and of course the photographs tell the story. Furnishings downstairs are mainly of the standard variety surrounding an island servery, and with a mezzanine floor which they seem to regard as their main dining area. Others have commented on how busy it can get, but I have to say that it was pretty quiet at around 10.45 on Saturday morning.
This one is definitely worth a punt (or a pint even) for the superb ornate decoration - but it's not cheap.
On 6th December 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2606 recommendations about 2520 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Counting House
Fullers have done a great conversion in here,there are lots of interesting features and oppulance.It's worth walking around to discover the full options.The ground floor has an island bar with carved wooden back,there is a vast sky light dome and impressive moulded ceiling,while there is a gallery up some stairs which will always be a quieter option for seating,although there is plenty of peripheral seating downstairs.Off the gallery there is a function room in wood panelling with it's own bar,while to the rear of the ground floor there are several seperate rooms in the former bankers offices,some also for hire,which act as overflow areas when busy.The rear door will take you into the alley system if crawling to another city pub.
This Ale & Pie branded outlet has sandwiches from £7 and mains starting at £11 and will always be popular at lunchtime.There is also a hotel entrance to the left of the building,which occupies the higher floors.
There are several banking hall conversions to pubs in the City and this is one of the better ones.Time your visit to miss the crowds,although I found bar service to be swift and efficient.The ale options were from 5 handpumps namely London Pride,Olivers Island,ESB (OK),seasonal Wise Men and a guest in St Austell Tribute ,a mainstream choice.
On 12th January 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Counting House
As stated, this was built as a bank in 1893 and converted into this Fuller's Ale & Pie House in 1997. The description is well covered below, suffice to say that on a Thursday night, this place was rammed with boisterous bankers. I don't know if perhaps there was some special event on - there were at least two separate groups of people huddled beneath an A4 sheet of paper with their organisations' names printed on them - but it was packed in here and getting to the bar let alone getting served was a challenge.
Typical Fuller's range of ales, predictable but safe.
A fascinating interior indeed, but I wouldn't want to spend any time here if it's always this full. This is really one for sticking your head around the door for a peak before moving on.
Closed at weekends.
On 29th November 2017
- rating: 4
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Counting House
Former banking hall that had an award winning conversion by Fuller's. As stated below it's all very grand/opulent and as roger button says it is similar to the old joint stock in Birmingham. Usual Fuller's selection and food served. Double it up with the nearby cross keys for another impressive interior.
On 24th November 2016
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2933 recommendations about 2866 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Counting House
A converted commercial premises, currently operated by Fullers. There is a grand foyer with a glass-cupola ceiling an upstairs terrace with dining tables and a large central servery. I found the staff very helpful, while the clientele were reasonable compared to most of the other local pubs. Food was the usual Fuller's standard, pre-made and microwaved, but sensible portion sizes, and although overpriced, not as overpriced as other local places. Five Fuller's ales on draft – I went for the Oliver's Island, which was in good condition. I count this as a success.
On 1st May 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3516 recommendations about 3480 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Counting House
Very grand building, with a spectacularly ornate interior featuring an island bar, central dome and gallery within the former banking hall. Decent Fuller's beer too, with Pride, Seafarer's, Oliver's Island and ESB plus Redemption Big Chief (£4.60) as a guest from a total of nine handpumps. Well worth seeking ornate.
On 5th July 2015
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]