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Detail Pages
The Old Bank, York
York
YO1 8AA
Reviews (Current Rating Average: 5½ of 10) see review guidelines
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 2452 recommendations about 2451 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 3224 recommendations about 3135 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 3269 recommendations about 2978 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Graduate
Name change to reflect a former use, although it does not have a splendid banking hall as many such do. Instead there is modernised if slightly cluttered interior in pastel shades of blue and grey, with a reasonable bar counter off to one side and a glass-roofed section at the back. Street level is more of an eating house but downstairs is more pubby, with its own bar open at busy times, and features sports TVs and pool tables, as well as a large partly-covered patio to the rear. Ales on (upstairs only) were TT Landlord, Rudgate Battleaxe and Ainsty Bantam Best, along with a fruit cider and a few Brewdogs for crafty types. Pleasant enough and the beer was ok but not a great draw.
On 24th November 2022
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Graduate
Large 2 floor 2 bar pub serving 3 real ales,5"craft keg" and food.
On 30th May 2015
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Alan Winfield left this review about The Graduate
The Graduate is a large pub that opens early for drinks, so very handy for me when starting a York pub crawl just after 9.30 in the morning.
Once inside there is a large square shaped room which is divided into two halfs,the right side is where the bar is,this area has long bench seats to the front left and tall tables and chairs to the front right,there are a few settees in the bar area,the left side is narrow and has normal tables and chairs,this area is carpeted,there is a room downstairs which is a decent size and has a bar but no pumps on it,the seating here is tall tables and chairs,there is also a pool table and access to an outside seating area.
There were three real ales on the bar,i had a drink of Yorkshire Pale which went down very well,the other beers were Black Sheep bitter and Doom Bar.
Decent background music was playing and the pub had a nice laid back feel to it this early in the morning.
Pub visited 23/5/2015
On 23rd May 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 6113 recommendations about 6113 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Graduate
A large pub this one, with a lounge area on the left furnished with settees and on the right hand side mainly used for dining There was a wide stair case in the middle of the pub leading up to a function room. The bar was at the rear and displayed three handpumps. The Maxim brewery American Pride was spot on and reasonably priced. The pub had a bit of the well known chain feel to it.
On 12th August 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]