Hmmmm, Bankers Draft. I have probably frequented this pub more than all the others in Sheffield put together.
Situated in Castle Square, it is a short walk from the bus interchange and the train station. There is also a tram stop opposite the building.
Bankers Draft is part of the J.D. ... Read review
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Advantages: Cheap drinks, friendly staff, nice food Disadvantages: No Music, dingy, scary old men
Hmmmm, Bankers Draft. I have probably frequented this pub more than all the others in Sheffield put together.
Situated in Castle Square, it is a short walk from the bus interchange and the train station. There is also a tram stop opposite the building.
Bankers Draft is part of the J.D. Wetherspoon chain.
~*So what's it like inside???*~
Well it's actually a bit dark and gloomy to be honest. ... ...have to adjust your eyes, and accustom yourself to the smoky grimness. Once you have done that, you can then take in the surroundings.
On your left lies the bar, which takes up more than half of the floor. There is usually a big queue waiting to be served - no matter what time of day it is.
Just before you reach the bar, there is a disabled toilet. I've not actually used it though, so I can't really tell you what it ... more
Hmmmm, Bankers Draft. I have probably frequented this pub more than all the others in Sheffield put together.
Situated in Castle Square, it is a short walk from the bus interchange and the train station. There is also a tram stop opposite the building.
Bankers Draft is part of the J.D. Wetherspoon chain.
~*So what's it like inside???*~
Well it's actually a bit dark and gloomy to be honest. You walk in through the main doors and you have to adjust your eyes, and accustom yourself to the smoky grimness. Once you have done that, you can then take in the surroundings.
On your left lies the bar, which takes up more than half of the floor. There is usually a big queue waiting to be served - no matter what time of day it is.
Just before you reach the bar, there is a disabled toilet. I've not actually used it though, so I can't really tell you what it is like. Come to think of it ... I've never seen ANYONE use it!!
The floor plan from the doors to the end of the bar consists of high tables, accompanied by those horrible tall stools. I hate them!! I can never get on or off the things without totally making a fool of myself. This section of the floor is a smoking zone, and as a smoker I have no option BUT to sit there.
To the right there are a few fruit machines and I think there may be a quiz machine there too. Just past these are two sets of stairs - the first set leading downstairs to the toilets, and the second set leading upstairs to another bar.
At the back of the building, we have the no-smoking area, complete with nice comfy chairs, which take no effort to sit in. Typical! I've sat in this section a couple of times when it has been full in the smoking area, but it tends to be rather quiet and empty. Not many people for me to nosey at!! There is also another entrance/exit here, which leads out on to Hartshead Square.
So, then we have upstairs. For about a year, I didn't realise you could actually sit upstairs if you weren't ordering a meal. But you can, and the seats are a lot better. Normal height tables, with settees or comfy chairs. If only I'd realised sooner ... I would never have had to fight with those stools!
Straight ahead is the bar, although it doesn't appear to be as big as the one downstairs. That could just be my dodgy eyes playing tricks on me though!
To the left is the smoking area, and to the far left is another exit. I always see people coming and going through that door, but must confess I've never been through it and haven't the foggiest where it leads too.
To the right is a small step and then 3 tables, which are classed as still being in the smoking section. The baby high chairs are usually stored here though, so there's not a lot of room. Plus the door to the toilets is there too, so people are forever trying to squeeze past you. Up another step and we have the no-smoking area. Not actually sat in there, but from what I can see it looks pretty nice.
To get to the toilets (Unless you want to go back downstairs and then down the other set of stairs) you have a long trek. There are about three flights of stairs, which take you right to the top of the building. It's about the same distance as going back downstairs though, so you can't win either way. You either hike up all those stairs, or you cross your legs!
~*What drinks can I buy??*~
Practically everything really. All your usual lagers and beers, spirits, shots and alco-pops. With it being a Wetherspoon's pub, the drinks are a lot cheaper than elsewhere. The last time I went in (About a week and a half ago) they had bottles of Reef for 99p, which I thought was pretty good. There's usually a selection of guest ales on as well.
Hot drinks are served too and are reasonably cheap at less than £1. Soft drinks can be purchased and soda water is free.
~*And the food?*~
Brilliant! There's a wide selection of choices all at decent prices. Hot meals such as burger and chips, fish and chips, scampi etc ... Lighter bites such as baguettes and chicken wraps ... and a range of different salads. The portions are quite generous and usually fill me (Although all the lager inside me probably helps!!)
There are also sometimes promotions on, where you can get 2 meals for £5 or a curry and pint etc.
There aren't a lot of desserts to choose from, but the ones they do have are nice. I'm usually too full to have one, but I sometimes share one with a friend. The banana waffles are highly recommended ... Yum!!
~*The Clientele*~
As I mentioned before, I visit this place quite a lot. Whether it be a quick pint on returning from an away football match, a few hours with friends from out of town, or a night out with my mates. Over the past year or so, I've come to the conclusion that The 'Draft definitely seems to attract some weird people.
You can be sat there happily having a chat with your friends, when some old man will pull up a stool and join in the conversation. Bizarre! Or you can be approached by someone selling bottles of shampoo. It can be quite surreal sometimes ...
~*The Staff*~
They all seem very pleasant. I've seen a number of staff come and go over the past year and I can't say I've ever had a problem with any of them.
They all seem to get on and have a laugh and a joke behind the bar. It can be quite entertaining listening to them actually. Some of them pop by your table and have a chat etc, and certain ones end up knowing exactly what you're going to order when you go to the bar. You know you're a regular when they start pulling your pint as soon as you approach the bar!! Hee!
~*Overall*~
Despite the dinginess and the odd strange geezer, I really enjoying going to this pub. It's not the kind of place I'd go to every night, like my local, but it has a nice friendly atmosphere.
There is no music, which I thought was a bit of drag at first. But once you get settled and chatting to your friends, there is a loud enough rumble from the other drinkers, so you tend not to notice.
I'd definitely say that this pub wouldn't suit a lot of people. Certain types would find it too down-market and grotty.
I like it though ... and the cheap drinks more than make up for the things I've grumbled about.
Advantages: Cheap Prices Disadvantages: Bit Dull and Drab
Situated at 1-3 Market Place right in the centre of Sheffield lies the Banker's Draft. For many years this place has always had a bit of a reputation as a dull, drab smoky place where the market crowds and down and outs hung out. However at the back end of last year JD Wetherspoons who own this place decided to give it a bit of a facelift and suddenly the Banker's Draft re-invented itself as one of their more prestige Lloyds No.1 Bars.
The History
... ...this place spent most of its life as a bank. Occupying a prime location in the city centre it is now ideally situated next to the main bus stops and tram stops and only a short walk from the main bus interchange.
The building itself is quite impressive, from the outside at least. A large mid-Victorian building occupying a prime corner location. Over the past 150 years or so the building has had many different uses but it is as a bank that it has ...
micksheff 14.06.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bankers Draft (Sheffield)
Advantages: Cheap drinks, Nice cheap food, No music Disadvantages: No music(!), likely to be approached by drunken, dodgy old men!
The Banker's Draft, what a pub! Its situated in Sheffield city centre, right next to the Castle Square tram stop. It is part of the Weatherspoons chain. It is quite a dark pub, with a dodgy carpet with an upstairs and downstairs. The food is gorgeous, with loads of veggie options. You can get two minted lamb burgers for £5, which is really nice and very filling. You can also get a coffee and a muffin for 99p, which is an absolute bargain! There are ... ...renowned food guru helps with the menus. There are often a load of dodgy old men in there, but this just adds to the entertainment value!
We often go before going clubbing, as it is near most of the essential clubs. The drinks are dirt cheap, with Reef only being a £1, and on a Monday, Smirnoff Ice is a £1! The pub is a good size, and although there is no music this tends not to matter. There is always a good atmosphere and it is nice to be able ...
dirtybird 10.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bankers Draft (Sheffield)
Advantages: near tram stop Disadvantages: dirty and dingy
The Bankers Draft - Lovely old building, but wow it is dingy inside. One of the last time I was in the Bankers, there was an awful pong as if some one had been sick, apparently it was somthing to do with the spilling of beer and cracked tiles ????
First impressions - As you walk through the door - lots of high tables for people to stand around, this area is light and bright - most of the tables wobble. usually very smokie. The down stairs bar is ... ...much better. The Bankers Draft has got to be the worse of all Wetherspoons pubs in Sheffield.
I dont very often go in the Bankers any more, mainly I meet my friends there because it is convienant for buses and trams, but its one half and then move on, whatever time of day ...
sheffsal 18.08.2004
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bankers Draft (Sheffield)
Advantages: cheap, chearfull Disadvantages: no music
The bankers draft,
Found in the heart of sheffield is this old building that has had many different usages but now is the location of a fine outstanding pub,
the pub itself is huge found basically on two floors that holds a capacity of some small night clubs, the beers are of wide variety and the food can be of the highest standard, the pub itself is open 7 days a week and on fridays and saturdays is really a lively place. it is often used as a ... ...clubs in the devionshire quater and is the last pub before the roundhouse nightclub. During the day you often find office staff in eating a good selection of foods and drinks. Being a JD weatherspoon pub the drinks are pretty much cheaper than any others in the surrounding areas, this sometimes brings out the poorer people but also makea a cheap night, the downside to the pub is that no music is allowed, this sometimes is a good ides but as a rule ...
projectlaughter 26.02.2001 (20.02.2001)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Bankers Draft (Sheffield)
Advantages: Cheap Disadvantages: Bad attitude of bar staff
I have been in the bankers draft on a number of occasions. We usually stay downstairs but yesterday we decided to go to the bar on the first floor.
However we found the attitude of the one of the members of staff, well to put it politely it stank.
There was a guy who walked upto the bar with a cigarette in his hand and instead of politely asking him to not smoke at the bar she nearly bit his head off. shouting "NO SMOKING AT THE BAR!!" and then ... ...dont mind the fact that she asked for ID its the way she asked and her whole attitude. Well thats the end of my moan. If any body fromn the Bankers Draft in Sheffield reads this I would appreciate some feed back. please feel free to email mail@robhamer.com ...
Nate_Bobb 12.04.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful Review of Bankers Draft (Sheffield)
