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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7½ of 10) see review guidelines
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Bankers Cat
A very impressive pub and comfortable seating areas also, whether you want a table along the front windows or a private booth down the left hand side. The interior lighting was subdued and good enough to see what you're ordering at the bar and drinking. I especially liked the attention to detail around the front bar which had carved corbels, panelling and a polished brass foot rest. The 8 handpumps along the front counter were finished in white.
We went for the Kelham Island Easy Rider and Shiny Brewery Wrench, both were in tip top condition.
On 16th January 2025
- rating: 8
[User has posted 3645 recommendations about 3645 pubs]
Ian Mapp left this review about The Bankers Cat
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.
On 8th December 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Moby Duck left this review about The Bankers Cat
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.
On 23rd July 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2151 recommendations about 2118 pubs]
Tris C left this review about The Bankers Cat
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?
On 28th June 2024
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2208 recommendations about 2165 pubs]
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Bankers Cat
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.
On 27th June 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Bankers Cat
Thornbridge have done a really good job here and have recreated the feel of a city centre Victorian pub.There is a parquet floor throughout,the central bar has two wings,to the right an impressive chandelier at the end of leather side benches while to the left are a series of seating booths.Much dark wood fittings,the muzak was gentle and the service quick and efficient,even the bouncer on the door was respectful.
It is worth investigating downstairs where there is a pool table with a surrounding banquette and a back snug in a former bank vault with a vast metal door. The loos just marked as Toilets may well have been unisex,I saw no sign of any urinals.
The star of the show is the ale selection from 8 pumps which on my trip was from Thornbridge Market Porter,Jaipur IPA,Grand Purposes,Lord Marples,Astryd and Brother Rabbit (NBSS 4) with two guests Only with Love Galaxy and By the Horns Stiff Upper Lip.There is an impressive keg line up if that's your game.
Close to the station with a great ale line up this is a must visit on any tour of the city and I will return for a longer stay next time.Less hectic than the Birmingham branch,it seems to be avoided by the O'Neil and All Bar One crowd and was pleasantly calm on a busy Saturday.
On 14th April 2024
- rating: 8
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Bankers Cat
The Banker's Cat is situated in what is clearly a very busy area for drinking on a Saturday evening. As with most pubs and bars around, there was a bouncer on the door. All of the bouncers we met were friendly though, including here. At least we got into this one, unlike the Friends of Ham and Bundobust which were both fully booked.
Being a Thornbridge pub, this felt similar in atmosphere to their pub in Birmingham (the Colmore). Similar to that one, there was also lots of dark wood and it felt lacking in light in some places.
The central bar is quite traditional. With all tables taken when we arrived, we propped up the bar for a while, until one became free. Looking at the last review, I'm glad we didn't try searching for the toilets. The disabled toilet next to the bar was much more convenient.
Jaipur, Astryd & Lord Marples are the regular Thornbridge beers here on cask. In addition, they had Brother Rabbit, Brock & Crackendale, alongside Oakham Citra. There were plenty of craft beers on too. I enjoyed my Brock.
Another new pub visited in Leeds City Centre for me and certainly one of the best 2 of the day.
On 25th August 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Will Larter left this review about The Bankers Cat
A quick visit between arriving in Leeds and catching a bus out to Bardsey, so I was glad to find the service efficient and the test & trace log in seamless, with a QR code on a table just inside the door. I was ushered to a table away from sight of the pump clips, of which there were five on the eight hand pumps arrayed on the handsome dark wood bar (with brass rails for elbows and feet). The server had to keep turning towards them as he strove to remember what was on, which makes it difficult to hear when wearing a mask. Brother Rabbit, Astryd and Lord Marples were all I could remember from my brief glimpse on the way back from the toilet a few minutes later, though I also saw Lukas on keg and I guess Jaipur would have been on in one form or another. Of the three named, I know I've been unimpressed with two of them in the past, so went for the third, which was Astryd, a pale and slightly hazy beer that wasn't to my taste though it was well kept and served. Payment is at the bar rather than using a mobile card terminal, but otherwise table service was very good. The interior is superb, with parquet floor throughout, and a wood panelled ceiling. Toilets are downstairs and initially well signed, but on arrival in a room with about six doors marked Private it's disconcerting to then eventually find one labelled Toilets in an unsuspected corner.
On 24th May 2021
- rating: 7
[User has posted 4273 recommendations about 3935 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Bankers Cat
Covid Special
They ask to take your card away for payment, err excuse me? No way! I paid at the bar. Pick a table but no T&T other than your card. Table service only. Quiet on my visit.
On 1st September 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Bankers Cat
Visitors to York’s Market Cat will experience a certain amount of deja vu on entering here. The layout and dark wood are very much the same, eight high quality beers on cask plus a range of interesting kegs. Beers are of course from Thornbridge with half from other well regarded breweries. Decor is architectural drawings and portraits of what I take to be bankers. Toilets in basement next to the former vault which also has a couple of seating areas.
On 6th January 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]