Back in the 19th century, this was a serious spot for serious money. Think top hats, ledgers, and clerks with handlebar mustaches counting gold sovereigns. The bank’s vaults were so secure that they once held the wages for the entire British Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. No pressure, right?
But then, in the 1990s, the bank closed its teller windows for good. And what do you do with a grand, high-ceilinged, marble-floored building full of safes? You turn it into a pub, obviously. Because nothing says “financial deregulation” like a Sunday roast where you used to deposit your life savings.
Here’s the best part: they kept the original Victorian interior. So you’re sipping your lager right next to the original bank counter, with its brass grilles and mahogany panels. It’s like having a drink in a museum, except the exhibits are drinkable.
THE VAULT THAT BECAME A LAVATORY
Now, I need to tell you about the toilets. Yes, the toilets. The men’s room is located in what used to be the actual bank vault. You walk through a massive steel door that feels like it belongs on a submarine, and there you are—peeing where people once hoarded gold bars.
I can’t help but imagine a Victorian banker ghost hovering nearby, muttering, “That’s not how you store assets, sir.” It’s ridiculous, it’s brilliant, and it’s absolutely worth a visit just for the photo op.
Also, rumor has it that the building is haunted by a former bank clerk who died on the job. But honestly, if I were a ghost, I’d haunt a place with free Wi-Fi and a good ale selection, too.
inside of The Old Bank of England pup and restaurant, London | London
