March 2012 – The Old Bank
Featured Pub of the Month for March 2012 – Written and selected by Eric Camfield
The Old Bank Bar and Carvery, 239 Southwark Park Road, Bermondsey, SE16
The pub building started life as a branch of Midland bank,later to become HSBC, it was closed several years ago under cost cutting measures and stood empty for a couple of years. The building was taken over and refurbished as a pub with restaurant and carvery facilities about two years ago by it’s present owners who were licencees of The Queen Victoria in Southwark park road SE16.
The pub is open seven days a week with normal licensing hours with a midnight closing time on Saturdays. Two real ale pumps are available at all times, which at the time of my visit were Ruddles county and Old speckled hen, although I have used it when Doombar and Greene King IPA and other beers have been on offer. The pub is a free house and the beers were resonably priced at less tha £3 a pint.
A bar menu is available during the week at lunchtimes with a carvery on offer on Saturday evenings and Sundays priced at £8-95 and £6-95 for over sixties, serving very generous helpings. There is a disabled ramp and disabled toilet and the toilets are kept very clean. Do not be put off by the Millwall FC. flags that adorn the market square outside the pub, it is in a very staunch area for Millwall fans including yours truly, but the fans who patronise the pub, particularly on matchdays are mostly over forty and will make anyone welcome to come and join in the lively pre match atmosphere.
I use the pub an a regular basis myself and would thouroughly reccomend it to fellow CAMRA members.
Meet the Manager
Paul is the manager of the Old Bank which is one of two pubs in the area owned by Maurice O’Sullivan, the other pub is the nearby Queen Victoria.
Paul, where were you born?
Tullamore, County Offlay
What was your first job?
A barman and cellarman at the Lantern pub in my home town.
What are your hobbies?
I love listening to good music, and playing the guitar.
What do you like to watch on TV?
Football, Millwall.
What is your favourite sport?
I like watching all types of gaelic games and of course football.
What is your favourite real ale?
Sharps Doombar.
If you were not a pub manager what would you like to be?
A professional musician in a proper band, with real instruments and no synthesized sounds.
What sort of music do you like?
I listen to a lot of folk and rock, but I like all kinds of music. The Beatles were a great band but they weren’t a boy band.
What is your favourite holiday destination?
I like visiting home the best.
What is your favourite food?
Thai food