The Old Bank of England pub, London: Grade II listed gem
The Old Bank of England pub has one of the most stunning pub interiors in London.
The beautiful building, at 194 Fleet Street, London is Grade II listed.
It was constructed on a corner site in 1886 by Sir Arthur Blomfield in a grand Italianate style, the interior having three large chandeliers with a detailed plaster ceiling.
The structure was occupied by the law Courts branch of the Bank of England from 1888 to 1975 before it was refurbished and put to its current use in 1994.
They did a fantastic job and the lavish interior is simply impeccable.
Complete with luxurious marble, grand paintings and specially commissioned murals illustrating the worlds of finance and law with a strong Victorian and Edwardian character.
The vaults beneath the pub once contained gold bullion, and are said to have held the Crown Jewels for a period as well!
The vault safes now accommodate bottles of wine and spirits.
The volume, size and thickness of the multiple safes is amazing.
In fact, one of them hasn’t been opened since at least 1994 and the key has been lost. Who knows what is inside!
Back up to bar level, you'll not find a more opulent ceiling anywhere in pubdom, and the wall paintings reward inspection.
The best seats are to be found on the mezzanine level, where you can look down on the punters packing in below.
The centrepiece is the imposing bar that stands so tall that a ladder is provided to reach the top shelves.
Despite its size, this place can get very busy, especially when the ancillary seating areas are closed for private functions.
It serves food all day including a good choice of starters and puddings and quality pub grub.
They also serve afternoon tea including sandwiches, light bites and sharing platters.
The pub has brilliant, mostly five star reviews on TripAdvisor.
The most recent review, from a few weeks ago, says: “The place has such a nice atmosphere and never fails to impress with its grand interior still reflecting its history.
“Food was great, had the fish and chips and a selection of starters to share which all tasted good.”
Another person added: “Love the character of the place, service was good, food was good, still and sparking water (not bottled) were free.”
The pub was give a refurbishment in early 2020 and, whereas the ornate high ceilings complete with chandeliers and the gallery beneath it were retained, the island bar was replaced with a modern metal work structure with similarly styled booths alongside.
The rear courtyard now features a classic Routemaster bus, craned in during the McMullens refurb!
If you’d like to visit, the address is 194 Fleet St, London EC4A 2LT.
You can book tables and check opening times via their website.
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