This food-focused wine bar in Chislehurst is the brainchild of Stuart Gillies, who used to work as a chef and eventually became CEO of the Gordon Ramsay Group. Now that he has left the business, Gillies has set up Bank House on the former site of a Victorian bank (hence the name).
The space was most recently home to a branch of NatWest and the building boasts a plum location on Chislehurst High Street. Gillies and his team have carried out an extensive refurbishment of the venue, but several of the original Victorian features remain.
The main wine bar stretches across two floors, with the ground floor space taking a more casual approach, while upstairs boasts a slightly sleeker vibe, as well as a cosy open fireplace. When it comes to drinks, you can expect to enjoy a selection of wines which are served using a wine keg system, which allows Bank House to provide a range of organic wines on tap. For those looking to avoid the vino, there’s a selection of craft beers and cocktails to choose from.
Aside from the wine, Bank House is also focused on food. The kitchen turns out a menu of sharing plates with a European accent, which have been carefully crafted to match well with the wines on offer. The menu changes daily and makes the most of seasonal produce, so expect hyper-seasonal, ingredient-led dishes.
Talking to Hot Dinners about Bank House, Gillies said: “I was a chef for 30 years, then ran a huge company successfully for many years for Gordon, but that’s a very different role. I’ve loved getting back to the core stuff that I’ve always loved. Close to the team, close to the grassroots, creating new things that are really adding value. I’m loving that journey, I have to say.”