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Detail Pages
The Last Judgement, Chancery Lane, WC2
WC2
WC2A 1DT
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
The main room is typically ornate with the high ceiling supported on gilded topped columns and buttresses, large individual windows give scale, the bar back is carved and is centred by an abstract sculpture in metal of a knight on horseback. At the left hand end a stair rises to a number of interconnected rooms and a small gallery over the main bar area, I assume these were the original bank offices. There are various portraits of legal folk up here as well as some attractive carved wood detailing.
Seating is mixed with a row of high tables and stools set in the front windows, more traditional and comfortable elsewhere, the bar counter curves in and out along its length, a fold down screen on the end wall was showing the 6 Nations with the sound muted. Plenty of students from nearby LSE in on Saturday and the high ceilings and hard furnishings resulted in quite a loud shouty ambience.
For what is supposed to be a flagship JDW I found the beer selection to be poor and disappointing with just two guests unless you count a doubled up Courage Best. They were Salopian Origin (£2.85) and Tring Brookmans, and the Salopian went off but thankfully after I'd bagged a pint of it. Perhaps I was unlucky on the ale front and maybe there are more on in the week when I assume business will be brisker when the law courts are in session. It's a fine building though and worth a look for that alone.
On 14th March 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1708 recommendations about 1681 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
Very stylish but may,be over the top with the Armoury.Busy after work till about 9.30 with the office crowd.Always found the guest ale choice is poor and presume the manager is not trying the beers he orders.Seem to like Cottage(gag) and Itchin Valley (gag).Still its an impressive Wetherspoon pub.
On 16th February 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
Interesting old building conversion, but usually emptier than one might expect (although certainly not on my last visit during the post-work Friday prime time). It has very ornate interior, with a high ceiling and an imposing bar back. Some more seating is available in two raised gallery areas at one end (not always open). A total of 12 handpumps, with the usual suspects plus a reasonable range of other ales and ciders (such as Mauldons Silver Adder, £2.85, on my last visit).
On 29th September 2012
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a typical central London bank conversion, similar to those in the Fuller’s Ale and Pie House chain, except that this is actually a Wetherspoons pub. The former Union Bank has now been converted into a vast drinking space with the servery running along the right hand wall of the huge, carpeted main room. The bar counter is nicely curved and the bar back is an impressive structure incorporating various pillars, plenty of glass and tiles and an abstract sculpture of a knight on horseback. High tables and stools have been arranged in front of the large windows, whilst the rest of the space is filled with typical Wetherspoons table and chair seating. A few large marble pillars break up the space slightly and the ceiling has been painted with images of knights, cherubs and the like. At the rear of the room, stairs lead up to a mezzanine style area which is divided into four compact areas, two of which look out over the main part of the pub. These rooms have more of a traditional pub feel to them, with carpet, wood panelling, tiled fireplaces, old paintings and large book cases all present and correct alongside some more knight sculptures. It’s a nice spot to enjoy a meal as well as escaping from the crowds in the main bar.
As a flagship Wetherspoons pub, I had hoped to find an exciting ale selection, but it was a great disappointment to find just three guest ales among the regulars on the twelve hand pumps. I gave the Conwy Mulberry Dark a try which was a nice enough pint.
I thought this place was a little bit soulless at first, but the raised area at the back is certainly worth exploring. If large bank conversions are your thing, then this is one of the better ones, but it doesn’t come close to the Cross Keys or some of the aforementioned Fullers pubs.
On 18th June 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Tris C left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
I've been here more times than I can remember but only because many of my friends were lawyers, indeed lawyers probably make up the majority of drinkers here.
This is a vast barn of a place with very high ceilings and an extra gallery to the rear. Unfortunately this place has absolutely no charm; 'drinking machine' is a more apt description than pub.
On 15th January 2011
- rating: 2
[User has posted 1985 recommendations about 1951 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
A large Wetherspoons bank conversion, sitting on the corner of Chancery Lane and Carey Street. It takes its name from the order of Knights who used to own most of the land around this area in the 12th Century.
As previous reviewers have commented this is one of Wetherspoons better establishments, both in terms of architectural decor, service and facilities (it’s worth a visit just for the toilets alone). The staff here definitely seemed to have gone to a different customer skills training school than your usual ‘Spoons serving rabble. The sceptic in me puts this down to the fact that the majority of the week day clientele probably have some connection with the nearby Royal courts of Justice, so the propensity for Tim to be sued for serving incompetence is a lot higher than in any of his other establishments.
It is a bit of a barn of a place, being a conversion from a former bank, this one being Union Bank, but somehow the very high ceilings and large space is compensated by the opulent decor and there is always a feel about the place, even when there is only a few in.
The large bar serving area supports over 10 hand pumps and there are usually a good range of guest ales available. I had a very good pint of Everards Beacon on my last visit if my memory does not fail me.
The standards of the toilets are a cut above your usual pub toilet experience and although I can only comment on the Gents, I am reliably informed the Ladies is top notch as well, as well as containing a very large curved padded sofa. The pub does open on Saturdays but is closed on Sundays along with the rest of this part of town.
On 9th January 2011
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2111 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
E TA left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
A better-than-average JDW with a pleasant atmosphere, beautiful surroundings and a professional clientele, mostly from the local legal fraternity. The main bar is magnificent with its chandeliers and decorated columns. The staff were excellent in attitude and demeanour, knowledgeable about their beers and friendly. One corner was roped off for a private parrty, a strange thing to see but it didn't interfere with the normal pub business. There were 10 ales on – I had a pint of Evan Evans's Winter Glory, well kept and served at the right temperature. I would happily come back in here for lunch or an evening's libation when next in this area.
On 1st December 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3286 recommendations about 3251 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
Rather grand and certainly better than average Wetherspoons.
Large, open plan downstairs, its echoey but comfortable and a little different, certain to others in the chain. There's a Knights Templar theme, obviously, but some of the wispy art work really is rather good. Well presented, there is a raised area to the left that again adds a bit of difference.
Staff seem good, which again is not always a given with Wetherspoons and the beer quality and choice also better than average.
Nice pub.
On 14th October 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve C left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a large and very impressive building, it's just a shame it is a Wetherspoons – although I will concede that it is well above average.
It was nice to see a projector on the wall showing Sky Sports news so that people could follow England's progress in the cricket, shame about the result though.
A far better atmosphere can be found in numerous pubs in the surrounding area, but it is worth a look just for the building.
On 4th October 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5254 recommendations about 5222 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Chris 87 left this review about The Knights Templar (JD Wetherspoon)
I have to say I thought this was massively above average for the JDW chain. The building is a spectacular baroque specimen, impressively detailed and really very nice to sit in. In contrast to other 'spoons I have visited, this was clearly well run - more staff on for the peak lunchtime rush and as a result I was served promptly. The food wasn't in brilliant shape but thats always an occupational hazard here, though my pint of Goldrush was excellent. Probably the best Wetherspoons I've come across.
On 15th July 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 179 recommendations about 179 pubs]