The Old Bank Bistro, Sunderland Street, Houghton-le-Spring

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The Old Bank Pub, Sunderland Street, Houghton-le-Spring

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The Old Bank pub originated as a branch of the North-Eastern Banking Company

The Old Bank public house opened at 16/18 Sunderland Street on December 19th 2008. The building originated as a branch of the North-Eastern Banking Company in the mid 1800s, and was managed for a while by Harry Shepherd Allison. Afterwards, it was used as a DIY business premises before becoming a wine bar with various names (Strikes, Heaven 17, Flynn’s Bar and then Jak’s Bar). Records show the first licensee was Jon Ronald Dawson in May 1983. Copyright © Books of the North 2009

The building has had many owners over the years, including: trustees of St John Ambulance Brigade; Allied Irish Bank; Bishop’s Inn Ltd; Courage Ltd; and John’s Developments Ltd.

The building still features a secure vault from the banking days. This is accessed via a winding set of stone stairs and large iron clad door (take the keys in with you, as it closes behind you!). Two original safes remain.

The Houghton branch was used by many locals, including: the Rector and Churchwardens, who held a current account there between 1898 and 1918; the New Town Sunday School, which had a current savings account there between 1908 and 1914; and Houghton Rector, Rev Reginald Heart Yeld, who had dealings with the bank when a portion of Glebe land was leased as a bowling green in 1909.

Former Houghton resident, Harry Smith, recollects the days when the Old Bank was an actual bank.

“I knew the old bank as a branch of Martins Bank in the 1940s. As a young apprentice I was often in there on messages, as our boss banked there. We once had the job of painting the outside of the building. See those top windows, we didn't have a ladder long enough to reach them so me and a lad called George Davison had to go out from inside and stand on that ledge. Well, one outside with a rope around his waist and the other holding the rope inside. Health & safety? It would need a few Ł100s of scaffold to get the job done now! I can't remember the chap’s name but the manager of the bank at the start of the war went off to France and spent years as a prisoner of war.”

The bar bistro was ran by proprietor James Dunning and his wife, and offered customers a wide range of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in modern, comfortable surroundings with wi-fi Internet access. The Old Bank even had its own website (www.theoldbank.co.uk) and obligatory FaceBook group. Sadly this modern venture ceased trading in October 2009. The Cutting Lounge, ladies and gents hairdressing, opened in 18 Sunderland Street in August 2011. Copyright © Books of the North 2002 - 2011.

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Paul Lanagan wishes to place on record his thanks to the following:

Thanks go James Dunning, George Davison and Harry Smith for assistance with this article. A special thank you is given to Ron Lawson for his amazing insight and knowledge of Durham’s public houses.

This article is now out of date. To see the new version, which is updated, visit:
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PAGE UPDATED: 22/12/2011

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Clark, Timothy, vict. Lamb Inn, Newbottle Lane
Dixon, James Turnbull, vict. White Lion and Commercial Hotel, Sunderland St.
Dixon, T, vict. Halfway House, Newbottle Lane (see below)
Fleming, Mrs A, vict. County Arms, Sunderland St.
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