The Old Bank Hotel is a hotel located in the historic university city of Oxford

Oxford

The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...

, England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. It is located on the south side of Oxford's High Street

High Street, Oxford

The High Street in Oxford, England runs between Carfax, generally recognized as the centre of the city, and Magdalen Bridge to the east. Locally the street is often known as The High. It forms a gentle curve and is the subject of many prints, paintings, photographs, etc...

, where it was the first hotel in one hundred and thirty five years to be created in the city's heart.

Facilities

The Georgian

Georgian architecture

Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...

 hotel has 42 rooms overlooking Oxford's towers and spires and is air-conditioned. The hotel has several 20th century paintings include Paddy Summerfield’s ‘Handheld’ collection (commissioned for the hotel) and works by Stanley Spencer

Stanley Spencer

Sir Stanley Spencer was an English painter. Much of his work depicts Biblical scenes, from miracles to Crucifixion, happening not in the Holy Land but in the small Thames-side village where he was born and spent most of his life...

, Sandra Blow

Sandra Blow

Sandra Blow was an English painter.-Life and work:Sandra Blow was born in London, England, and studied at Saint Martins School of Art from 1941 to 1946, at the Royal Academy Schools from 1946 to 1947, and subsequently at the Academy of Fine Arts, Rome from 1947 to 1948...

, Craigie Aitchison

Craigie Aitchison (painter)

Craigie Aitchison, RA, CBE was a Scottish painter. He was known for his many paintings of the Crucifixion, one of which hangs behind the altar in the chapter house of Liverpool Cathedral.-Education:...

, Michael Ayrton

Michael Ayrton

Michael Ayrton was an English artist and writer, known as a painter, printmaker and sculptor, and also as a critic, broadcaster and novelist...

, Roger Hilton

Roger Hilton

Roger Hilton CBE was a pioneer of abstract art in post-war Britain. He was born in 1911 in Northwood, London and studied at the Slade School of Fine Art, London under Henry Tonks and also in Paris, where he developed links with painters on the Continent.In World War II he served in the Army, part...

 and Henrietta Dubrey.

History

The main building of the Old Bank Hotel dates back to the 18th century, with number 93 not being erected until 1775 on a site owned by bankers John Parsons & William Fletcher called "George Hall". The five bays on the left were added in 1798. The corner of Magpie Lane was rebuilt by Stephen Salter in 1902 to imitate a sixteenth century house. The building was separate from the bank until 1980 and was later a stationery shop run by Joseph Vincent. The buildings served as a bank (latterly as the main Oxford branch of Barclays Bank) from 1775 until 1998 when millionaire art collector Jeremy Mogford bought the building to renovate it into a hotel.

Quod Restaurant and Brasserie

Within the hotel is the Quod Restaurant and Bar. The restaurant is designed with stone floors, an oval zinc-topped bar and leather banquette seating. Quod's emphasis is on good quality seasonal produce, and an excellent atmosphere.

Quod Brasserie with its terrace and bar is the main part of the hotel, open all day serving simple Mediterranean food surrounded by an amazing collection of young British art. The hotel also offers private areas including The Gallery, Boardroom or Red Room.

Jazz

Quod Restaurant hosts a number of regular jazz performances. It was a listed venue at the 2010 Oxford Jazz Festival.

Parking

The complex offers a large area to park and it is located in the midst of some of Oxford’s colleges, including Merton

Merton College, Oxford

Merton College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. Its foundation can be traced back to the 1260s when Walter de Merton, chancellor to Henry III and later to Edward I, first drew up statutes for an independent academic community and established endowments to...

, University

University College, Oxford

.University College , is a constituent college of the University of Oxford in England. As of 2009 the college had an estimated financial endowment of £110m...

, All Souls

All Souls College, Oxford

The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....

 and Oriel.

Location

The Old Bank hotel and its restaurant Quod, is located at the end of Oxford's High street. Access to the car park is possible via Merton Street

Merton Street

Merton Street is a historic and picturesque cobbled lane in central Oxford, England. It joins the High Street at its northeastern end, between the Ruskin School of Drawing & Fine Art and the Eastgate Hotel at the historic east gate of the city...

 and the Magpie Lane

Magpie Lane

Magpie Lane is an English folk group, based in Oxford, England.The musicians of Magpie Lane first came together in the winter of 1992–93 to record The Oxford Ramble, a collection of songs and tunes from, or about, Oxfordshire. Although originally conceived as a one-off recording project, the band...

.