The Old Bank, Bermondsey, SE16

Please Note: This review is over a year old.

Rex Rattus left this review about The Old Bank

This is obviously a bank conversion. There were three ales on - GKIPA, GK London Glory, and Howell's Frosty Bells (the latter good value at £2.70 a pint - tasted OK as well). It's probably a Greene King pub then. This place styles itself as a "pub & carvery", and the carvery was advertised on a chalkboard inside as being available between 12 - 3. But I didn't see any sign of said carvery, or any other food or menus when I was in at around 3.0 PM on Thursday.

This is a fairly characterless place, as these sort of conversions often are. But it clearly serves a valuable purpose in providing a drinking venue for its clentele who would perhaps otherwise spend the day drinking in a 'spoons, had there been one in this particular high street. The most interesting feature is the latticed floor tiling, incorporating a mix of various pastel and brightly coloured tiles. Sounds strange, but oddly in keeping with the ambience of the pub. The other thing I noted was the odd things on top of the entrance vestibule - a model of Betty Boo, a sewing machine, and some overturned wooden chairs. Furnishings are the standard mix of banquettes and normal tables and chairs, and some pop music radio station was playing over the sound system.

Where it did score a plus point with me was the pile of London Drinkers sitting behind the box containing business cards for taxi firms and local tradesmen. This pub isn't really my cup of tea however, although it is one of the few places in Bermondsey where you can get a pint of real ale. I don't expect to be making a return visit.

On 7^th January 2013 - rating: 4
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