Bank of Scotland, 2 St Vincent Place, Glasgow

The subject is the commercial building and former banking premises at 2 St Vincent Place, Glasgow, Scotland, historically known as the Bank of Scotland branch at that address and today trading as The Counting House, a pub operated by J D Wetherspoon plc. The building occupies a corner site on the west side of George Square at the junction with St Vincent Place, extending back to Anchor Lane. It was designed for the Bank of Scotland by the Scottish architect John Thomas Rochead and built between 1867 and 1870 in the Italian Renaissance (Neo-Renaissance) style; Rochead fell seriously ill before completion and the final phase of construction was led by David Bryce. A reworking was carried out in the 1920s by Andrew Balfour. In 1966 the building was added to the Scottish listed-building register in the highest category, Category A. The Bank of Scotland itself is one of the oldest banking institutions in the United Kingdom, established by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland dated 17 July 1695 — making it the only bank ever to have been created by an Act of the Scottish Parliament. It has traded under the same name for more than three centuries and absorbed numerous other banks over that period. The Glasgow branch at 2 St Vincent Place was one of its prominent west-of-Scotland premises, and the building's design is credited with setting the tone for the west range of George Square, later completed by 24 George Square and the Merchants' House in 1874–1875. In the modern era the premises ceased to function as a bank branch and were acquired by J D Wetherspoon plc, the UK pub company founded in 1979 and floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1992. Wetherspoon converted the former banking hall into a large pub named The Counting House — a name that plays on the building's banking heritage. The pub at 2 St Vincent Place, Glasgow G1 2DH, offers the chain's standard formula of food, real ales, craft beers, cocktails and low-priced drinks, with facilities including Wi-Fi, a licensed outside area, baby-change facilities and step-free access. It participates in Wetherspoon's twice-yearly real-ale festivals and seasonal menus such as the Christmas menu and spritz cocktail range. As a brand entity, the subject is best understood as a heritage commercial property and pub brand: the historic Bank of Scotland building at 2 St Vincent Place, now branded and operated as The Counting House by J D Wetherspoon. It is not a bank brand in its own right today, but a named retail/hospitality venue carrying the memory of the Bank of Scotland branch that once occupied it.

The building at 2 St Vincent Place was constructed for the Bank of Scotland between 1867 and 1870, designed by the Scottish architect John Thomas Rochead in the Italian Renaissance style. Construction of this corner house marked the beginning of the shaping of what is now the west flank of George Square; the flank was completed by 24 George Square and the Merchants' House in 1874 and 1875 respectively. Rochead became seriously ill before the building was finished, and the final construction phase was led by David Bryce. During the 1920s a reworking of the building was carried out by Andrew Balfour. In 1966 the structure was entered on the Scottish listed-building register in Category A, the highest category. The Bank of Scotland, which commissioned the building, was established by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland dated 17 July 1695 — one year after the Bank of England — and is the only bank ever to have been established by an Act of the Scottish Parliament. It has traded under the same name for more than 300 years and absorbed 21 other banks over that period, playing a part in creating a distinctive banking system north of the Border. The Glasgow premises at 2 St Vincent Place served as one of its branches. In the modern era the premises passed out of banking use and were acquired by J D Wetherspoon plc, the UK pub operator whose first pub opened in Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, north London, on 9 December 1979 (initially called Martin's Free House and renamed Wetherspoons in early 1980). Wetherspoon pioneered initiatives such as non-smoking bars (from 1991), the CBS (cleanliness, beer, service) scheme, and the Wetherspoon News magazine, and was floated on the Stock Exchange in 1992 as J D Wetherspoon plc. The company converted the former Bank of Scotland building at 2 St Vincent Place into a pub named The Counting House, a name referencing the building's banking past. The pub today operates under the Wetherspoon formula, with facilities including Wi-Fi, a licensed outside area, baby-change facilities and step-free access, and it takes part in the chain's twice-yearly real-ale festivals and seasonal menus.

• 1992

  J D Wetherspoon floated on the Stock Exchange as J D Wetherspoon plc.

• 1979

  First Wetherspoon pub opens in Muswell Hill, north London, on 9 December.

• 1966

  Building listed in Category A of the Scottish listed-building register.

• 1920

  Reworking of the building carried out by Andrew Balfour during the 1920s.

• 1875

  Merchants' House completed, finishing the west flank of George Square.

• 1874

  24 George Square completed, continuing the west flank of George Square begun by 2 St Vincent Place.

• 1870

  Building completed; final phase led by David Bryce after Rochead's illness.

• 1867

  Construction of the Bank of Scotland building at 2 St Vincent Place begins, designed by John Thomas Rochead.

• 1695

  Bank of Scotland established by an Act of the Parliament of Scotland dated 17 July 1695.

A heritage Category A listed former Bank of Scotland building repurposed as a large, value-focused J D Wetherspoon pub in central Glasgow.

• The Counting House pub (food, real ales, craft beers, cocktails)

• Autumn beer festival (30 real ales, including five from international brewers)

• Christmas menu (available 12 November to 31 December, excluding Christmas Day)

• Spritz cocktail range (nine classic and fruity recipes)

1. 1The Counting House - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
2. 2History - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
3. 3The Counting House - J D Wetherspoon (pub history)jdwetherspoon.com
4. 4About us - J D Wetherspoonjdwetherspoon.com
5. 5Bank of Scotland, 2 St Vincent Place, Glasgow - Wikidatawikidata.org
6. 62 St Vincent Place - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org