please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A great find in the centre of the old part of Bristol city.
Happened across it and glad that I went in as there was a warm welcome and a good selection of beer, I forget what I had but it was in good condition. Visited on a Tuesday evening when the place was packed for a 'quiz night' with a mixed friendly crowd of young and old.
Well worth seeking out
|
Didn't think much to this place I'm afraid. Both beer and cider weren't in great condition. Friendly staff though.
|
Small one bar pub hidden in the city centre. Mainly wooden fixtures and fittings. Friendly place on a Saturday Afternoon. Otley-02, £2.65
|
First in a trio of pubs before and after the mighty U’s visit to Ashton Gate where we managed to salvage a draw from a winning position. Pleasant enough pub, 3 or 4 ales on with one pump clip turned round. I started with a couple of pints of bitter which were slightly too cold for my liking and then moved onto an excellent porter – neither of the beers I can remember the names of! I know they had Hop head and one from Tintern. We also ate in here and my burger and chips did the job well and good value for 7.50. A good start to the day. 7/10
|
Not a bad little pub - a bit of a licenced annex for the Direct Line offices next door. Pleasant staff, small but all-encompassing range of beers available. Tucked away, but a good central location.
|
Whilst the beer has been good on my recent visits it seems other aspects are changing. Walking towards the pub this Saturday I could hear loud music from the main road, as I approached, it was clear it was coming from the pub. I walked on by. This was shortly after noon.
It's not the first time I've thought twice about going In because of the loud music, but the first time I've avoided the place.
The clientele are now tending toward the low-slung pants, studenty type brigade which probably explains the loud music, but someone is responsible for the over loud music and its not the public.
If the bank continues on this path then it's going to fall off the radar for beer lovers quite rapidly.
|
really fun, friendly and hopspitable pub. Good range of ales & ciders, eclectic choice of music - Drum & Bass to 80s AOR cheese in the space f a few minutes
|
Nice little find in the "commercial"end of the city centre. Sadly, I had to wait a very long time to get served as the one barman was having a problem with the change for some other customers! Anyway had a nice pint with St.Georges Brewery featuring on two pumps. This must be a great little hideaway during the day and I can imagine it being popular with office works in the early evening - especially in good weather when you can sit outside. Well worth seeking out.
|
Popular Free House with an excellent choice of ales including strong ones - a 6.5% IPA on my last visit.Conveniently located and Highly recommended.
|
Cracking little proper boozer with an interesting and well kept selection of real ales on at all times. Sunday roast is a winner!
|
Very freindly place managed to find it somehow after wandering around cabot circus trying to find a eatery.Good food pity about the lack of sausages but my steak sarnie was very nice. Oh yes the beer was excellent I had the Teignworthy Old Moggie a lovely hoppy beer @ abv 4.4%.Only had tlme for a couple before back to the shopplng.Would definitely go there again when next in Bristol.
|
Pleasant pub up an alleyway, with friendly helpful staff (called a taxi for us as we were running a bit late) and a good selection of local Bristol and Frome ales as well as handpumped cider. Sunny weather meant we could sit outside to drink. We much enjoyed our albeit brief stop here.
|
We had four pints of very well kept and quite unusually named bitters, three of which i have never heard of or seen. Nice to find a pub that can serve beer at a good temperature and not too cold. The wyffe ale was very good, as was the the two bath ales. This place also had a great selection of ciders local and national. we will visit again to try the ciders.
Food was above average and better than expected, everywhere was clean and staff were very relaxed, helpful and friendly.
Sebby
|
A decent, traditional boozer in a small back alleyway in stark contrast to most of the other establishments nearby. There�s some outside seating which is a pleasant enough spot despite the 60�s office block towering over you. There was some bunting stretched from the corner of the pub to a tree and back again to the other corner which was draped with fairy lights.
Inside it�s a smallish, single L-shape room with some black , rather threadbare, vinyl bench seating around the perimeter and a few chunky wooden tables. The shorter leg of the �L� is more open and used as a stage area for various bands. There was a solo guitarist there on a recent Thursday night which made conversation difficult and we retreated outside. Decor wise there is dark wood panelling covering most of the walls, with some flock wallpaper up above. There are a number of pictures dotted around including a couple of prints of enlarged bank notes which seems appropriate given the pub�s name. The flooring is old and well worn boards and there is a fireplace at one end which although it contained a burner full of logs this was festooned with fairly lights. Maybe it gets lit in the winter.
Up above the bar was a selection of board games, and various chalk boards displayed information regarding Phobia of the Month, Universal True of the Month, Chemical Reaction of the Month and even more bizarrely Kitchen Utensil of the Month.
Some unusual beers on tap which on this occasion were Bath Ales Dark Hare, Otley, Illusion and Auburn. Good choice of ciders as well with Janet�s Jungle Juice, Thatcher�s Gold, Thatcher�s Dry and Cheddar Valley.
|
A real bonus finding this. Small pub, but with a pleasant courtyard outside. Inside looked a good choice of beer & mine was top notch. The night I was in had a buzz as there were bands & a youngish crowd. I'll be back next time in Brizzol.
|
Been in a few times recently and all the ales sampled were in excellent nick on each occasion, and there is usually an interesting selection on offer out of the three pumps. Recommended.
|
A pub with up to four real changing real ales on.
Quality of the beer was pretty good last visit.
A pub where there always seems to be something going on.
Something here also for you Apple lovers.
The food is very good.
|
Well kept pint served by a very enthusiastic barman. Looked like 4 real ales available. Worth seeking out, particularly if on a crawl.
|
A Really good jack of all trades mvp in bristol food good . beer good quality , in a pub where theres always something on, friendly bar staff , a discount 4-7 weekdays for camra members that has been extended to real Cider . excellent
|
A really enjoyable fesitval which came to a close this weekend , good beer food , entertainment , really enjoyed it yesterday , when you could pour your own beer , with half of it ending on the floor
|
There were four beers, a cider and a perry when we called. One of the beers turned out to be our Beer of the Trip - Blindman's Blond from Leighton near Frome. The food, which alas is only served from lunchtime to late afternoon, was exceptional value, good quality and very tasty, hence it is a very busy place at that time and deservedly so. Staff were very welcoming and friendly. I got the impression that the false loo thing was to deter callers who wanted a quick pee without buying anything! Excellent place.
|
Hi Dandillus
Thanks for your comments, it was good of you to respond. The point about there being some inconsistency was noted: it doesn't hurt to have a reminder every now and again about getting it right.
Cheers
Ed
|
Mr Bank, looking back at the review I left - it's a bit overly grumpy and harsh in retrospect which I thought I needed to acknowledge. I do like the idiosyncrasies of the pub - and always been decent music on when I've been in and good atmosphere. I'm pretty sure there were only two ales on but hey ho, I'll look forward to next visit . Cheers.
|
Afternoon
I'm sorry you had a bad experience on Thursday. I was drinking at the pub Thursday night and there were three beers on when I was there!
The fourth pump is broken (there is a sign) and as we had to buy them ourselves to rather than tie in to Sharp's or something as others might we have to send to the manufacturer to get them fixed. I know it's inconvenient though and apologise.
We've worked hard on the ales, and are open to being judged on the ale perspective alone; I think the beers are quite interesting and generally well kept but we'll keep working on it and try to get it right. It is and ever shall be however a pub, though that appears easy to forget sometimes, and on the pub perspective it's more about enjoying it an hoping enough other people do. I think when it stops being fun we'lljust have to sell it and get an ice cream van or something rather than run it some other way.
As for the fake loo, it's a keeper I'm afraid; though it will of course be renovated alongside the real one in due course.
|
Just to judge this place purely from an ale perspective, the word that springs to mind is inconsistent. There were only two out of four ales on tonight, the Moors Revival was in excellent nick but the other (name escapes me,) was flat and really, given the competition for - and the good pubs that missed out on in 2010 - GBG entries, makes this establishment's inclusion in the book questionable to say the least. The gents toilet thing is just an annoyance, oh ha ha non regulars don't know where the toilet is. Yes, and the words 'grow up' spring to mind.
|
Tucked away down John Street not far from the Grand Hotel. the Bank is a pub for beer and conversation in a basic old-fashioned bar. On my Sunday evening visit, it was nigh on deserted but still managed to be welcoming. Four good beers, plus draft cider and perry. Would be fun in the summer with really pleasant outdoor tables. The loos (despite other's comments) aren't bad, but the gents are confusingly downstairs by the bar rather than through the labelled door.
|
Goffs Mordred and White Knight plus a Skinners beer and a Cider - all 3 beers in pretty good nick. A haven on Sunday night as it closed at Midnight. Music was Journey, Europe, Foreigner & Bon Jovi which provoked some debate! Worst loo in Bristol I think....
|
Back on form , a good choice that included goffs merlin , otley and two others . An excellent sunday lunch ,a reasonable �7.95 , and good food in the week, in a nice secluded spot , in very central Bristol . Back on form as said.
|
A sanctuary from early Sunday closing times, 3 real ales and a real cider on, pictures of banknotes adorn the walls, a few studenty types present, I get the impression you could get a bit 'over refreshed' in here and get away with it!
|
Afternoon All
My Bad. We ran the beers down as we were shut through most of the Christmas/new year period then couldn't re-build the stocks due to snow. It's very much my fault and not something I'll be doing next year so sorry for the disappointment to all those who made the effort to come and see us only to find a poor selection.
On the bright side we have stocked up fully now and normal service has been resumed. On the even brighter side, we're going to be renovating the pub in early February now that the documents from the head landlord are through; it'll still be wood-paneled and cosy, but a little neater with a better lavatorial experience downstairs...exciting eh?
If anyone has visited and found the beer selection wanting over the last few weeks please feel free to e-mail me and I'll send back tokens for a couple of pints. We are, as I mentioned, sorry for the mess up.
Cheers
Ed from The Bank
|
Recent visits have found-
NO ale on but 2 ciders and the normally pleasant older barman rowing with a "customer"(who knows it all.....)
,then next visit 2 Jollyboat ales but NO cider
,then next visit 1 Moor ale at 5% in moderate condition.
Something is amiss,come on guys make this place back into the friendly must visit boozer.
|
Two Moor ales available on my visit on 2 January - I stuck to the cider and enjoyed the Abbey Hell's Bells and Thatcher's. Friendly barman and fellow customers. Worth a visit when in central Bristol.
|
oNLY 1 real on tonight , though was very good , was slighthtly disapointing for this recommended pub . for me in bristol has a long way to go to catch up with the seven stars or any of the dawkins chain.
|
Otley O8 (Pontypridd, 8%), Salopian Golden Thread (5%), Kelham Island Pale Rider (5.2%), a bit heavy on a session, also Goffs Tournament, Cheddar Valley & Bristol Port Cider. Another small pub wrapped around semi horseshoe bar. Left �end� has decorative fireplace below wood panelling with bookshelf. Some leather banquettes, wood tables & chairs, a group of 12 eating at long formation opposite bar. Tall tables to windows on right, odd framed prints featuring financial subjects (eg top quarter of a �5 note), also framed hockey shirt � Univ of Bristol, nice old wood floor throughout. The blackboards winding round above the bar have changing trivia; one showed �chemical reaction of the month� (unrecorded), �phobia of the month� was �eosophobia� (fear of daylight), �month of the month� was June (1683).
|
Another visit to this lovely friendly pub. The chap behind the bar spoke to us as though he recognised us even though we have only been there once before and that was a couple of months ago. That really says it all about this place. There may not be a lot of ales, but you know you may find something different in great condition, and enjoy a chat too. We had Goffs White Knight, Great Western Classic Gold and Abbey Bellringer. Wished I hadn't eaten in spoons when I saw the menu. Would love to give the liver and onions a go! First class pub.
|
Would echo the comments of recent posts.
Nice, friendly, homely bar. Very helpful and friendly staff.
Varied range of real ales. Sir Freddie Walker was on tap when i visited ; excellent pint - went back for another.
Food served also, though we had already eaten.
Some interesting clientelle too.
Certainly a pub i would return too - next time i make the 160 mile journey !
|
We started off the BITE Bristol Pub Crawl here a couple of weeks ago and an excellent choice it was. It has a bit of a trendy gastro look to it from the outside but inside you�ll find a proper pub with a friendly welcome and some excellent beers. I think the Month of the Month on our visit was April.
|
2 visits on 2 consecutive weeks have both delivered excellent beer in a great pub. Star selection on those visits had to be Arbor Ales "Bushcraft" but to single any out would be almost an injustice. A few new faces behind the pumps but good service continues. Its all been said before and what's said has been correct and long may it last!
|
What a lovely well run friendly pub this is, and serving a good range of well kept real ales too. Great to see such a good choice of micro breweries, and deserves its place in the Good Beer Guide.
|
Tucked away in an alley near the city centre, worth the effort to find - pleasant surrounds and intriguing selection of ales.
|
Three ales on yesterday of which the Arbor Mild was the best. I lile this pub a lot. They seem to get everything right. And there 'Month of the month' made me laugh out loud. I ought to visit this place more.
|
Four ales including ones from RCH, Great Western and Celt when we were there. Friendly enough, quite young and studenty clientele. Authentic looking wooden interior and a bit of Bowie on in the background which cheered up this grumpy old geezer. Recommended and will be back for a second visit.
|
A friendly pub with cracking real ale, Thatchers cider and a guest cider. It's a small pub and can get busy in the evenings. A cracker.
|
Offers Thatchers trad cider and usually has a guest cider as well (had run out of Gwent-y-Draig was before my last visit).
Music gets very loud on Friday nights.
|
Brilliant pub with well kept ales. Landlords wo actally care. Close to the Lanes for bowling, which is a plus
|
Great little pub with good beer - nice pint of Moor Peat Porter
|
Best incarnation I have seen of this pub in my 7 years in Bristhole. Decent ale,Otley and Moor at time of writing. Thatchers trad also. Friendlier to those known to it that to strangers,but improving as this stranger becomes a more occasional visitor. Mmm,yes this isn't bad at all.
|
food brilliant , dorset gold best pint i've ever had in bristol , even better than cotham porter stores , even if the duchess of cotham drinks there
|
Marked down only for size and accessability, great little pub with a fantastic, mischeviuos atmoshpere, and some good ale & Cider on the taps. Ale selection varies regularly, and considering the location the prices are very resonable. Food menu seems to be basic at first glance, but is very well presented and made, and again the price is right.
|
A pub that failed to reach its potential for many years, it now seems The Bank is bankable! I first visited in early 1996 as a slimline undergraduate on the ever-widening search for decent alehouses away from most other Bristol students, and was both heartened and dismayed in equal measure. An acceptable pint of Ushers Founders, a mellow, dimly-lit cosy interior and a friendly landlord were found, but sadly, no customers, and, hence, no atmosphere. The then incumbent insisted that the surefire secret to winning more customers over was to playing quality music, which to him basically meant Ella Fitzgerald... Great though she was, it isn't an obvious key to city centre success, and seemed to be a strategy struggling even to woo the septagenarians.
Fast forward to 2008 and it looks like the old chap and Ella have long-since departed, in favour of a more youthful, but savvy crew, who have managed to turn the Bank into a pub beloved by the young, but not at the expense of of its traditional charm. A far superior range of ale is now to be had, well-kept; friendly service, and plenty of lively custom keeping it buzzing along without being obstreporous. Popped in on Saturday and stumbled across "The Bank's Big Birthday Blow-Out", heralding 1 year since the latest incumbent's arrival. Lots of 4-to-the-floor dance music; Ella would have been spinning in her grave!
It looks like this Bank is unlikely to need rescuing from the government any time soon...
|
Small, difficult to find and in a cul-de-sac would seem to make it an unlikely business proposition, but the current owners are making a better job of it than previous tenants. It offers local real ales served with humour, and the chance to sit outside with the office smokers in a traffic free but architecturally disappointing environment.
|
