Having already popped into the renovated Bank Hotel a few times, I snapped up the opportunity to give my thoughts on the new Sunday night at the classic Newtown hangout. Rolling in around 5pm, I was greeted with laidback aplomb – a few groups of people enjoying a Sunday afternoon drink, chatting amongst themselves or watching the rugby on the large projector in the front of the venue. Peering through to the back I could see a lot of people in the rear courtyard, perhaps the venue’s most appealing feature. Enjoying the afternoon sunshine, it wasn’t clear whether they were winding down from a big weekend, or winding up for an even bigger Sunday night! Plenty of characters, but without the attitude. Plenty of people grinning at nothing in particular – it was a good vibe.

The newly renovated Bank has a lot to offer as a venue. They hold regular nights on Thursday (funk/breaks/hip hop/dub), Fridays and Saturdays (a mash-up of 80’s, pop, disco, rock, soul and funk) and Sundays (a relaxed mix of everything good). It has an upstairs area known as the Velvet Room, where you can hold your own little function or groove away to the quality house/electro music sounds played by resident Scott Pullen, who regularly stands aside for any one of the quiver of DJs guests that represent the venue (such as Mo Funk, Deepchild, Dan Adair, Jamie Lloyd, Bob Frisky, Yogi, Chip, Richard Weiss and Sista P to name a few). Also upstairs is a funky little outdoor alcove with a view of King St, perfect for the voyeur in all of us. Downstairs is a Thai restaurant (and a tasty one at that), as well as the lower level of the rear courtyard. In between them all is a hallway that also serves as the the DJ booth on Sundays.

It’s probably not the best location for the DJ booth because of the limited space and transitory nature of the room, but it served the occasion all the same given the absence of anyone looking to dance. Given this observation, it was perhaps one of the few times that the DJ needs to be heard and not seen. And Scott Pullen and Renae Stanton did a great job of doing just that: playing quality tunes, most of them tried and tested in dancefloors and parties long ago. They were professional in every sense of the word and a pleasure to talk to as well, which really sums up the vibe… The bouncers weren’t refusing people for being badly dressed, they were refusing people for being dickheads.

All in all, it was a great way to spend the afternoon. It’s clear the Bank is in a state of transition at the moment, not unlike many other venues: trying to figure out how it will fit into people’s lifestyles as winter approaches. If it keeps heading in this direction – creating an environment that welcomes everyone (gay, straight, whatever) then it will become the choice venue on King Street for some time to come. If you are looking for a place to hear quality tunes played by some of Sydney’s most respected DJs, in a relaxed environment where they’re just another part of the décor, then head on down to the Bank on a Sunday arvo.