In recent weeks I have made some pretty pitiful attempts to go to the gym in a bid to counteract all the beer I’ve been guzzling for this column.

Wearing my gym-going gear I walked into a pub at the top end of Sutton High Street the other day only to be told they have a dress code and my tracksuit trousers were in breach of this policy.

I was told if I took my drink and went and sat in a corner then my presence would be tolerated.

Naturally, I declined such a generous offer and took my custom elsewhere. As many of us know, tracksuit-wearing chavs are ten-a-penny in Sutton, it was just a shame from my perspective I got tarred with that brush.

Anyway, I landed up in the Old Bank. Here my patronage was deemed acceptable and I was spared a lecture about my apparel.

Situated just a stone’s throw from Sutton station, the Old Bank is ideal for those who fancy a swift pint before or after their journey.

It’s a large, smart and well-run boozer which offers a good selection of beers ranging from Bombardier and Doom Bar to Carling and Fosters.

It’s the kind of place which appeals to couples popping in for a meal, sorry-looking loners having a quiet pint and the after-work crowd –whether they be smartly-dressed office types or paint-splattered decorators.

Things can get a little rowdy when the boys from Sutton and Epsom Rugby Club pop in for a Saturday night session or the football is on the television and the Chelsea fans are cheering on Frank Lampard, John Terry and their over-inflated egos, but on the whole there’s a decent atmosphere.

The low-level lighting adds to the cosy feel and there are some nice, long padded seats in which to slouch and sink some ales.

At a time when pubs need as much help as they can get, it was nice to feel accepted here and not excluded, like the place down the road.

THE OLD BANK, 2 High Street, Sutton, SM1 1HN

How the pub rates (out of five):

DECOR: XXXX Inoffensive. Has a warm feel with dimmed lighting.

DRINK: XXX Good choice. Bombardier, Doom Bar, Stella and Kronenbourg.

PRICE: XXXX £2.65 for Bombardier is good value. £3.75 for a large red wine.

ATMOSPHERE: XXX Can be rowdy but also a place to sit and read the paper.

STAFF: XXXX Very chatty and happy to help.