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Chat about:
Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Image posted by Graham Coombs
Submitted on Friday, 12th May 2023
With picture contributions to 5503 other pubs
View all this pub's pictures (17 more images)
Detail Pages
The Old Bank, York
York
YO1 8AA
Served areas
Reviews of The Old Bank (Average Rating: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Old Bank
Having hoped to re-visit the House of Trembling Madness and having found it closed for a private party, which judging by the noise from the windows sounded quite fun, I settled for another new pub for me, the Old Bank.
This is a large barn-like place spread over 2 large floors. There are a few secluded corners, but TVs are spread all around. I arrived at the bar to find some young guy doing press-ups in front of a cajoling group. Having stepped over him, I was faced with a pretty poor cask ale choice. Landlord is the regular beer. The guest was Doom Bar. Punk IPA & Elvis Juice were available on keg. So, I opted for the latter.
Venturing downstairs to the toilets, I discovered that the basement was just as busy as the ground floor.
This pub appears to be part of a chain and it certainly has an identikit feel with little character. However, it's late night opening and large drinking space undoubtedly appeals to some. Personally, I doubt I will ever be back.
On 23rd January 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Old Bank
Despite no longer being a Varsity or the equally student haunted Graduate this is still squarely aimed at the student trade with loads of offers if you have the required ID. To a non student type like me it just felt rather unpubby. Very little evidence left to suggest it used to be a bank apart from the name. Lackadaisical service and my pint of Ainsty Bantam Best stank and didn't clear. It was replaced with Ainsty Flummoxed Farmer which was OK. It took them ages to turn the pump clip round as it had to be authorised by the manager. So the manager has to authorise them not to sell crap beer???
This place just didn't do it for me and I can't see us calling in again.
On 12th April 2023
- rating: 4
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Old Bank
Renamed from Varsity among other things, a large roughly square room on two levels with a counter to the rear right it’s got loads of screens, I didn't venture downstairs. Tables and chair furnishings as food is a major part of the offer. Laminate floors with tiles round the counter. Four pulls with one cider and two bitters, Landlord and an Ainsty, plus a Christmas brew from Acorn, middling to good quality. Two horseshoes of usual stuff plus some solos of more standard kegs. Staff coped well as it was a bit busy and the customers were mostly young men in group or families, it was Black Eye Friday when I visited. Might go back on a crawl.
On 24th December 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3599 recommendations about 3279 pubs]
View more reviews of The Old Bank (7)
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- The Old Bank page on Great UK Pubs website - www.greatukpubs.co.uk
- Facebook page of The Old Bank - www.facebook.com
- CAMRA WhatPub :: The Old Bank - whatpub.com
Pub Details
Pub details supplied by members of this site to the best of their knowledge. Please check with pub directly before making a special trip.
- Accommodation : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Bar Billiards : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Beer Festivals : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Beer Garden : Yes - patio - last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- CAMRA Discount : No - vouchers accepted - last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Car Park : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Child Friendly : Yes - not in evenings - last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Function Room : Yes - From review - last updated 12 August 2013 by Dave McNally
- Hot Food : Yes last updated 30 May 2015 by hondo .
- Karaoke : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Live Music : Yes last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Live TV Sports : Yes last updated 30 May 2015 by hondo .
- Micropub : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Pinball : No last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- Pool Table : Yes last updated 06 September 2014 by hondo .
- Real Ale : Yes last updated 30 May 2015 by hondo .
- Real Cider : No last updated 23 January 2024 by Blue Scrumpy
- Wheelchair Access : Yes last updated 24 November 2022 by Graham Coombs
- WiFi : Yes last updated 30 May 2015 by hondo .
