please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Sorry but the Bank has gone downhill a lot since my last visit. Used pop in midweek for a quiet pint in afternoon while picking a few horses or on a weekend night. The friendly atmosphere has gone. Beer is ok but theres more to a pub than that
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Under new management for over a year, but seems to get emptier by the week as an on-the-cheap 'bohemian' revamp has alienated most of the old regulars. Darkly lit, gothic (old) sofa and candles seem to be trying to attract the 'Hipster' make-half-a-pint-last-for-3-hours brigade. Would be fine in Hoxton, but not here. A master-class in how to run a pub into the ground. The regular barman (Maurice?) is very friendly though and does his best to keep the customers happy.
Advertises Sky Sports but that's usually restricted to the worst located small screen in the pub with the sound off (what's that all about?). Either cater for sports fans or just don't do it. Has a good quality large projector screen which is never used. The management needs to accept that if it wants to maximise profits by catering to the football crowd during match showings, then an anti-football vibe isn't the way to go.
A great shame, as this pub is neither one thing nor the other - it used to be a great, unpretentious traditional boozer - maybe the very thing that would also attract the glass-hugging Hipster brigade!..
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Under new management for over a year, but seems to get emptier by the week as an on-the-cheap 'bohemian' revamp has alienated most of the old regulars. Darkly lit, gothic (old) sofa and candles seem to be trying to attract the 'Hipster' make-half-a-pint-last-for-3-hours brigade. Would be fine in Hoxton, but not here. A master-class in how to run a pub into the ground. The regular barman (Maurice?) is very friendly though and does his best to keep the customers happy.
Advertises Sky Sports but that's usually restricted to the worst located small screen in the pub with the sound off (what's that all about?). Either cater for sports fans or just don't do it. Has a good quality large projector screen which is never used. The management needs to accept that if it wants to maximise profits by catering to the football crowd during match showings, then an anti-football vibe isn't the way to go.
A great shame, as this pub is neither one thing nor the other - it used to be a great, unpretentious traditional boozer - maybe the very thing that would also attract the glass-hugging Hipster brigade!..
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Still doing a good job though prices have increased somewhat �3.60 for a beer seems like the average for area on matchdays, not so sure I would pay that all the time though.
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Nice basic traditional boozer-but how they can justify �3-40 for a pint of London Pride is beyond me.
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Ok pub been a few times last time I was there a clueless barmaid but pretty barmaid served me a cloudy pint of real ale, problem was soon rectified with a smile from the more knowledgable head barman I presume. Outside seating area, packed on matchdays but a pleasant Gooner oasis nevertheless.
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This is a very nice pub with a friendly barman and a good local crowd, even when there is no match on which indicates that this pub doesn�t rest on its laurels and just milk its location.
I had a very nice pint of Pride, but Greene King IPA and Seafarers were also available along with Amstel and a selection of standard lagers.
The public bar has a small portable TV up on the wall, but his was off as all the people that were watching the sport were in the other bar with the plasmas. There is a dartboard at the rear of this bar with plenty of space around it, so no stepping on each others toes!
I liked it in here and would gladly go back to listen to the funny old boys at the bar.
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Genuinely welcoming atmosphere, good beers and comfortable surroundings. Not at all trendy - that's the way it should be. A valid alternative to the unspeakable dive up the road that is The Woodbine.
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This is still a nice old fashioned boozer with a nice patio garden out the back, BUT the price of a pint has risen dramatically in the past year. It's now �3.20 for a pint of London Pride or Greene King IPA. Still worth a visit, but not much change from a tenner if you buy three pints!
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A great local boozer.
What I would class as an 'old man' pub, which to me is the kind of pub I like! Good, and well kept ales (Directors, Best, London Pride), friendly staff, and warm convivial atmosphere. There's a lack of decent pubs on Blackstock Road but the Bank is always a winner.
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This find boozer has lost some of its charm recently following the 2007 change of management. The friendly service which was a mark of its former charm has gone.
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I visited this pub last weekend and had a fantastic time. The atmosphere was great and drinks are resonable prices. The staff were very friendly and served a good pint. The landlord was really great he made me feel very welcome. Overall a great little boozer!
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Superb friendly local Irish pub.
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Best pub (excluding bars - see T-Bird) on Blackstock Road. This old boozer has real atmnosphere.
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Everyone's favorite local. Excellent beer, great garden and superb collection of old men! Everyone in there is usually chaining fags though so be interesting to see what effect the smoking ban has.
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My local. Fantastic. Best pub on Blackstock Road. Bar staff are friendly, good prices and good range of drinks. Fine beer garden.
Recommended.
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Excellent pub. The pick of the bunch for your pre and post match pint. Unlike some of the other Arsenal pubs, they actually serve real ale (I usually go for the London Pride) and service is quick. Nice to see that, despite the move to the new stadium, it is still full of fans on match days.
I've also drunk there when the Arsenal aren't playing, and it then is a perfect example of what a local should be - an unpretentious down to earth pub. Friendly regulars and staff, and often open after 11pm. Beer garden out the back.
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Known amongst some Arsenal fans as 'The Bank of Grandads' which gives you an indication as to the average age of customer. Don't let that put you off, its still better than the Gunners for a pre-game drink - always seem to be served quickly. Make sure to drink the first 1/4 of your pint pretty quickly, because the size of the place means it'll get spilt when you're bumped into otherwise. Should empty out a bit with the new stadium - Drayton Arms will be an away fans pub no more.
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great local pub , good beer and staff .
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In terms of service, this is the best pub in Highbury on matchdays. Queues 3-deep at the bar are handled quickly and correctly, and you (notrmally) get change from a fiver for 2 pints! :-)
The pub's a bit small, which makes it awkward for watching the lunchtime games before going off to the Arsenal, but that's just nit-picking.
I've never eaten in here, but would like to one day.
8/10.
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Brilliant pub, my local for many years, just a nice place you can enjoy a good ale (London Pride always on good form), cosy without being poky or dingy, the type of pub that has become all too rare in Islington.
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Popular traditional local pub with friendly staff and clientele, selling Courage Best, Directors and London Pride. Pleasant, cheerful atmosphere and a nice sense of community. By far the best pub in the area.
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A nice little pub. found it by accident but it was a good find! its very cosy with a nice open fire. slightly old mannish but it's good for a quick drink
anonymous - 9 Mar 2005 15:21 |
A fine boozer to meet and chat, darts and garden.
If I had a local like this I'd be chuffed. No crap kuke box domination, no trouble, lots of approachable folk, and a bar that understands its role as a meeting place. Staff seem to like working there, which helps. No pretensions, and a bit smokey, but worth tolerating that.
If only they had bar billiards ....
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My "local" during the football season. The best boozer within a mile radius of AFC. My friends and I go there for the excellent beer (the Courage Best is very good as is the Guinness) and the beer garden out the back. They have Sky TV, but because it's small inside watching can be cosy. None the less a very fine boozer.
Mike - 6 Jul 2004 13:20 |
this is a great london local - the beer is very well served and fresh.
i was once waiting for my friend and when i looked up i saw des lynam and john motson sat at the bar. i was quite shocked.
richard - 31 May 2004 18:33 |
Quality pub - great garden for the summertime. Friendly bar staff and decent plasma tele for the football. I move away from Highbury next week and i'll miss the place big time!
anonymous - 19 Feb 2004 13:27 |
I only get to visit Highbury on the odd occasion during the season, normally for the mid-week evening fixtures, and ther'e nothing quite like having a few celebratory pints in The Bank of Friendship after the game. Love it, a proper pub
Peter - 3 Nov 2003 13:41 |
In an area not particularly great for pubs, in my eyes the Bank stands out like a rose amongst thorns. It�s not the place to go to meet your future husband or wife mind you and you�d really want to be a gooner on match days!
It�s a traditional English pub in every sense:
The bar staff are really friendly and after a couple of visits always remember your name.
The beers from the pump are great, and cheap to boot.
The atmosphere is really friendly � striking up a conversation at the bar with someone you�ve never met before is the norm here.
Darts, darts, darts. Watch out for Bob, the 93-year-old local�80+ years of experience has blessed him with an unnerving capacity to hit those doubles when it counts!
Oh and the beer garden throughout this miraculous summer just gone has been a revelation!
Only downside is no kitchen, but that�s just being picky.
I am an Aussie and have lived in the area for about six months. I�m forever bringing people here for a pint and a dart and they�re always asking �where has this place been hiding?�
Quality �Norf Lundun� - Recommended.
Guy T - 27 Oct 2003 15:13 |
