29 Market Street, Tamworth, B79 7LR
Albion Road, Marden, TN12 9DT
Riviera Centre, Torquay
11-13 April 2025
23 Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham Ferrers, CM3 5ZA
Unit 11, Valley Point Industrial Estate, Beddington Farm Road, Beddington, CR0 4WP
Argyle Place, Love Road, Lowestoft, NR32 2NZ
116, Foregate Street, Chester, Chester, CH1 2HH
As a Wetherspoon's pub it closed on 17th March 2023. It has been taken on by Berkeley Inns and reopened as The Last Judgment. Since its time as a Spoons the number of handpumps are reduced to 6. All mainstream breweries eg Fuller's, Tim Taylor, Adnams and what we assume is a guest, in Mod-Oct from Allsops. No TV but background music not intrusive. Bench seating now along the wall opposite the bar. Very comfortable. Quiet compared to Spoons days. The pub actually opens at 7.30am for breakfasts served until 10.30. The hours given are for the bar's opening. The food timings given are for the A La Carte menu.
https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2023/03/20/Wetherspoon-shuts-the-Knights-Templar-Chancery-Lane
Some background on its previous incarnation -
The Knights Templar, a military order founded in the 12th century which rendered service to the Crown as bankers until dissolved by the Pope in 1312, owned land on which Chancery Lane was built and the imposing Wetherspoon's conversion, which bears its name, of a former banking hall appeared in the film of "The Da Vinci Code".
The building and its front railings are Grade II listed. The scroll of the original Union Bank of London is seen above the entrance, which leads into a grand high-ceilinged bar with many original decorative features retained and enhanced, including magnificent fluted and scroll-topped slender columns supporting the ochre-painted ceiling with its illustrated panels and large chandeliers.
A long curved wooden bar counter, equipped with brass footrests, runs most of the length of one side, with a metal sculpture of a knight as the centrepiece of the ornate back bar. Tall windows provide plenty of light reflected in the long mirrors hung from the cream painted walls.
A variety of seating areas are provided with both tiled and carpeted flooring. Towards the rear are several large round stone-topped tables near the grand oak staircase down to the toilets.
Stairs to the rear, topped by a prominent clock, lead to three interconnected mezzanine rooms, two of them wood panelled with library shelving and balconies overlooking the main bar.
Historic Interest
Grade II listing:- Bank. 1865 by F.W. Porter, built as the Union Bank of London. Portland stone, slate roof. Stately, richly detailed High Renaissance design. 3 storeys, basement and dormered attic. 4 window wide frontage to Chancery Lane, splayed corner entrance bay and 12-window wide front to Carey Street with central and terminal advanced pavilions. Aediculed corner entrance. 3 storey loggia treatment to Chancery Lane with semicircular arched windows contained within successive Tuscan, Ionic and Corinthian orders in coupled columns. The Carey Street front has the same theme but with coupled pilasters. Arcaded 1st floor windows. Terminal pavilions as loggias. The central pavilion 2 storeyed with stone ball finials to cornice blocking course. Heavy main cornice and entablature with semicircular, pedimented dormers above. Fine heavy cast iron area railings. Original banking hall with rich Renaissance detailing, largely intact.
Conversion
This pub was until early 2023 called the Knights Templar, named after the military order founded in C12 and dissolved by the Pope in 1312 that owned land hereabouts. This imposing conversion of a Grade II-listed banking hall has left rich Renaissance detailing largely intact. The grand high-ceilinged bar retains many decorative features including magnificent columns supporting the ceiling with its illustrated panels and large chandeliers. A variety of seating areas are provided, including panelled mezzanine rooms with balconies overlooking the bar. Meals and a wide choice of real ales.
This Pub serves 1 changing beer and 3 regular beers.
Last Judgment, London
Source: National
Lunchtime Meals
Evening Meals
Family Friendly
Disabled Access
Dog Friendly
Function Room
Restaurant
Smoking
Wi Fi
Real Ale
OCR Pub
Quiet
Love Cask Beer?
Join CAMRA to support the campaign to access more features plus access to a range of different benefits.
Become a member
