Fleet Street · the City of London
The Old Bank of England
A real Bank of England branch, gold vaults and all
- Address194 Fleet Street, EC4A 2LT
- Websitemcmullens.co.uk/oldbankofengland
- OwnershipPart of McMullen's
About The Old Bank of England
A grand Italianate building that housed a working Bank of England branch until 1975 — its old vaults reportedly still hold at least one unopened safe.
Built in 1886 and designed by Sir Arthur Blomfield, this was literally a Bank of England branch — the Law Courts branch — from 1888 until 1975, and rumour holds its underground vaults briefly stored the Crown Jewels during wartime. The pub, opened in 1994, keeps the original chandeliers and plasterwork; one vault safe is said not to have been opened since 1994, the key long since lost. It stands close to where the legend of Sweeney Todd, the 'demon barber', is set.
On tap
McMullen's cask ales and a solid wine list.
Food
A full pub kitchen menu in a genuinely grand dining room.
More pubs in Fleet Street
- Ye Olde Cheshire CheeseRebuilt the year after the Great Fire
- The Punch TavernNamed after the magazine, by its own staff
See all the City of London pubs and the map · All 12 boroughs