A new pub in a grand building, it’s a question of seeing whether management has the nous to pull in the punters.

The Venue
This impressive three-storey sandstone building was originally the Yorkshire Penny Bank, which was erected in 1895 and is Grade 1 listed. The bank helped out the poor and created pioneering savings accounts for school children as well as organising a free soup service.

The facade features arched windows and carved faces of dignitaries from the time of construction, and the imposing cast-iron gates enclose a small tiled outside atrium complete with a free-standing banquette where you can sit and smoke a fag or two.

The fluted pillars have intricately carved wooden bases and decorated tops and the ornate and patterned ceiling features carved flowers, as well as more little faces and figurines. The old bank counter has become the bar and the former manager's office is, somewhat ironically, now the toilets.

It’s got marble and wood-panelled walls and there’s a pool table in the middle of the room and Chesterfield sofas around the outside.

The People
The clientele has yet to define itself as it’s only just come under new management, but they are putting on 60’s and 70’s nights and planning on putting on live music to pull in a few new faces.

The Food and Drink
On draught you’ve got Carlsberg, Carling, Strongbow, San Miguel, John Smiths Guinness and Tetley’s, which is just £1.80 a pint.

In bottles there’s Stella, Budweiser, Newcastle Brown, Bulmers, Carlsberg, Magners, Guinness, Holsten Pils and Beck’s. It’s £2.10 for a quarter bottle of wine and there’s no food.

The Last Word
Despite an impressive setting, the last venture here, a restaurant, didn’t work. Let’s hope this one does.

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