Built 1886 by Sir Arthur Blomfield in grand Italianate style and Grade II listed; the Law Courts branch of the Bank of England from 1888 to 1975, converted to a pub in 1994. An ornate gilded plaster ceiling at full banking-hall height, three large chandeliers and a gallery. The vaults beneath once held gold bullion and, by repute, the Crown Jewels. A recent refurbishment added a mezzanine and replaced the island bar with a modern metalwork structure, so the room is busier than the building deserves — but you can still order a pint beneath an absurd ceiling.
Location
Fleet Street, London
Map
Plan Your Visit
Bar seating
Sit at bar, order from bartender
Insider Intel
A pint beneath the banking-hall ceiling — the room is the reason to come, not the list.
Weekday lunchtime. It is a City pub, so weekends are quieter but hours can shorten.
A McMullen's house; the old oldbankofengland.co.uk domain has lapsed and now serves spam. A recent refurbishment added a mezzanine and replaced the island bar.