The Old Bank

20/10/2026

🚨🎉 WE’RE HIRING AT THE OLD BANK! 🎉🚨

🍴 FRONT OF HOUSE STAFF WANTED! 🍴

We’re looking for some friendly, enthusiastic faces to join our fantastic team here at The Old Bank Gastro House! 🍹🍽️

If you’re a smiley, happy person who loves meeting new people and wants to be part of a fun, fast-paced environment, we’d love to hear from you! 🙌

💥 WHAT WE OFFER:

⏰ Part-time hours

📅 Flexible shifts to work around YOU!

💰 Competitive rates of pay

💸 A share of staff tips

🤝 A friendly, supportive team

📚 Full training provided – no experience necessary!

🚀 Immediate start available!

🌟 WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

✅ A positive attitude and a big smile!

✅ Friendly, bubbly and enthusiastic personalities

✅ A willingness to learn and get stuck in

✅ Someone who enjoys working as part of a team

✅ The ability to thrive in a busy, fast-paced environment

Experience isn’t essential – it’s all about having the right attitude! We’ll teach you everything you need to know! ❤️

📩 SOUND LIKE YOU? APPLY NOW!

Send your CV to:

📧 [email protected]

📧 [email protected]

Or tag someone who you think would be perfect for the job! 👇

Come and be part of The Old Bank family! 🥂🍴

PartTimeJobs NowHiring GastroHouse

13/10/2026

❤️ WHAT A WEEK! WHAT AN ADVENTURE! 🌍

We just want to say a HUGE thank you to everyone for all the well wishes, donations, social media posts and love over the last week as we trekked to the opposite end of Europe! ❤️

It truly was the opportunity of a lifetime, and we are so glad we did it! We made some incredible new friends, laughed, cried when things got tough, pushed ourselves beyond what we thought possible, but most importantly, we all did it! 💪

And the most incredible part? We have now raised JUST OVER £85,000 for Eden Valley Hospice! 🥹❤️ Absolutely incredible, and we couldn’t have done it without every single one of you. Thank you!

But we’re not quite finished yet… 👀

🥂 ONE LAST NIGHT — THE GRAND FINALE! 🥂

We want to bow out in style and give you the chance to hear our story and find out exactly how we managed to cross the whole of Europe!

Introducing…

🍽️ “THE CHECK POINTS” 🍷

A special 4-course menu inspired by our stops along the way to the end of Europe, with drinks paired with each course!

📅 Wednesday 18th November ⏰ 6:30pm 💷 £60 per person

A night of fantastic food, great drinks, plenty of laughs and the full story of our unforgettable week — with money donated to Eden Valley Hospice as we make one final push to reach our target of £100,000! 🙌❤️

🎟️ Bookings are available NOW!

👉 www.theold-bankcarlisle.co.uk

Let’s see if we can get that total to £100k together! ❤️

And for those wondering, we’re back open from 5pm this Thursday! 🍻

I’d love to say I’m well rested, but honestly, I could sleep for a WEEK! 😂😴

Thank you again to everyone who has supported us, donated, followed our journey and cheered us on. You’ve helped make this something truly special, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all! ❤️

11/10/2026

🏁🇹🇷 ISTANBUL… WE MADE IT!!! 🇹🇷🏁
OUR FINAL DESTINATION… ISTANBUL!!! 🎉❤️
And WOW… what a final leg it was!!! 🤯🤣
This was another tough one, with VERY VERY few options to get across the border into Turkey! What should have been a long day on 2 buses turned into an even LONGER day on 3… because our second bus decided it had had enough and dumped its oil all over the road!!! 🚌💨🛢️🤣
So there we were… another 3 HOURS waiting for a replacement!!! Because obviously, this race couldn't just let us finish without one last drama! 😂
Then came the border crossing… well, let's just say we ALL had an experience… some more than others!!! 🫣🫣🫣🤣 What happens at the border stays at the border!!! 👀😂
BUT WE MADE IT!!! 🙌🇹🇷
⏰ At exactly 5:18am this morning, our Race Across Europe 2026 OFFICIALLY came to an end!!! 🏁❤️
And what a WEEK it has been!!!
Without a doubt, one of the most AMAZING, culturally eye-opening, mentally challenging and physically draining weeks of my entire life!!! ❤️
I've had the absolute privilege of meeting 14 incredible people who have been there through every laugh, every low, every meltdown, every ridiculous moment and every single challenge this week has thrown at us! 🥹❤️
We've laughed until we've cried, probably wanted to cry for completely different reasons at times, questioned our sanity and somehow kept putting one foot in front of the other!!! 🤣💪
And between us, we have now raised JUST UNDER £74,000!!! 🤯❤️💰
SO HERE'S MY FINAL CHALLENGE TO YOU ALL… CAN WE HIT £75,000 BY THE END OF TODAY?!?!🙏❤️
We are SO close!!! Just one final push to make this incredible week even more special! Every single donation, no matter how big or small, means the absolute world! ❤️
Tonight we're heading out as one big group for a well-deserved dinner to experience a little bit of Istanbul life 🇹🇷🍽️ before we fly home tomorrow! ✈️🏡
And one thing I will say to anyone watching this journey from the outside…
DON'T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU'VE TRIED IT!!! ❤️
It might look all easy peasy in the photos, videos and funny updates… but believe me, it's anything BUT!!!
When you've got that much time to think, day and night, when you're exhausted, hungry, uncomfortable and completely out of your normal routine, your mind can take you to some pretty low places at the drop of a hat. It's a challenge in ways you can't even begin to explain until you've lived it yourself. ❤️
But that's what makes crossing that final finish line feel SO special!!! 🥹🏁
I've experienced places, cultures, emotions and moments that will stay with me forever. I've pushed myself further than I thought I could, and I've made memories and friendships I'll never forget! ❤️
To everyone who's followed our journey, sent messages, cheered us on, donated or simply believed in us… THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART!!! 🫶❤️
And to my 14 fellow racers… WHAT A TEAM!!! We actually bloody did it!!! 🥹🍻

🇹🇷🏁 RACE ACROSS EUROPE 2026… WE CAME, WE SAW, WE CONQUERED… AND WE ARE FINALLY FINISHED!!! 🏁🇹🇷
NOW LET'S GET THAT £75,000!!! 💰

❤️🏡 And now, as much as I've loved every crazy, emotional, exhausting minute of this adventure, it's time to go HOME!!! 🥹❤️
Time to get back to my husband, my little boy and the rest of my family, who I've missed more than words can say! 🥰❤️ Time for some proper cuddles, my own bed, a bit of routine and hopefully some kind of NORMALITY again!!! 🤣🏡
I'm heading home with a full heart, aching feet, a very tired body and a head full of memories that will last a lifetime! ❤️

RACE ACROSS EUROPE 2026… COMPLETED IT, MATE!!! 🏁🌍💪❤️
OVER AND OUT!!! 🎤🇹🇷❤️

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

🚨🌍 CHECKPOINT 3 HAS BEEN REVEALED!!! 🌍🚨
And we're ON OUR WAY!!! 🏃‍♂️💨✈️🚆🚌
But the BIG question is… WHERE ON EARTH ARE WE HEADING NEXT?! 👀🤔🌍
This checkpoint is turning into a proper adventure, with MULTIPLE forms of transport needed to get us there! 😂🙈
We've actually got a bit of time to sit down and relax for once, so I thought I'd pay tribute to one of our amazing supporters, Nic from Northern Nic's Back Kitchen! 🙌❤️
Now, I've been on the hunt for some proper CRAP CRISPS deep in the heart of Europe… and OH MY DAYS, I've found some absolute beauties that I just HAD to show you!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Nic, I reckon you'll appreciate this little European crisp investigation! 😂🥔
So while I'm busy reviewing Europe's finest questionable snacks… YOU LOT GET GUESSING! 👇👇👇
📍 WHERE DO YOU THINK CHECKPOINT 3 IS?!
Drop your guesses in the comments! Let's see who's got their geography head on! 🌍🧠

We honestly cannot believe the amount of love, support and donations that have been coming in! 🥹❤️
Between us all, we are now sitting at JUST UNDER £70,000!!! 🤯💰🔥
And that's BEFORE GIFT AID!!! 👏👏👏
We genuinely cannot thank every single one of you enough. Whether you've donated, shared our posts, sent us messages or cheered us on from back home, it means more to us than you'll ever know! ❤️
But we're not finished just yet!!! 💪🔥
⏰ WE'VE GOT UNTIL THE END OF TOMORROW! ⏰
So let's give this one FINAL MASSIVE PUSH and see just how high we can get that total!!! 🚀🚀🚀
Every single pound makes a difference, and if you can spare anything at all, we'd be unbelievably grateful! 🙏❤️
👇 DONATE HERE 👇
https://www.justgiving.com/page/matt-rayson-1
Please keep sharing, keep spreading the word and let's see what we can achieve together! ❤️
MUCH LOVE TO EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU! ❤️❤️❤️
We miss you all loads, and we can't wait to see you all again! 🥹🫶
LET'S GET THAT TOTAL AS HIGH AS WE POSSIBLY CAN!!! 💪🔥❤️

09/10/2026

🚂🌍 CHECKPOINT 2 – BUCHAREST, ROMANIA! 🇷🇴❤️

Yesterday morning we found out our second checkpoint… BUCHAREST! 😳

A place NONE of us were expecting! We had all sorts of ideas about where we might be heading next, but definitely not further east! 😂
Once we started looking into how we were going to get there, we quickly realised this was going to be our hardest challenge yet! An overnight bus or a mammoth train journey… and we ended up taking on the longest train journey I've EVER done – nearly 19 and a half HOURS! 🚂😴

I'm not going to lie, yesterday was probably my toughest day mentally so far. When we found out where we were heading, I completely crumbled inside. Everything just got on top of me, and for the first time I genuinely felt ready to go home. ❤️

I'm missing my other half and my little boy more than words can explain. I've never been away from my little lad for this long since the day he came into the world, and it's really starting to hit me hard. To then spot a little post off his nursery showing me they are all cheering us on had me to tears 😭 When you've got that much time travelling, you've got far too much time to sit and think about everything. It's been tough, really tough. 💔

But this is where the amazing people around you make all the difference! ❤️
We teamed up with Mike, Lynn, Caroline and Jim, and the six of us tackled Bucharest together! 💪 We took our checkpoint photo together and signed in together, because that's what this whole experience is about – sticking together, supporting each other and doing absolutely everything we can for that very special place we all know back home in Carlisle! ❤️
As hard as this journey is, we know exactly why we're doing it, and that's what keeps us going when things get tough.

Tomorrow morning at 7:30am we find out our THIRD AND FINAL checkpoint! 🗺️👀
And honestly… NONE of us have a clue where we're going next! All we know is that it's probably going to be another massive challenge to conquer! 😅

We're tired, we're emotional, we're missing home… but we're still going! 💪❤️
One more checkpoint. One more challenge. Let's see what you've got for us! 🌍🔥
Thank you to everyone following, supporting and cheering us on. It really does mean more than you know! ❤️
❤️

07/10/2026

🥁🥁 DRUM ROLL PLEASE… OUR FIRST DESTINATION WAS … VIENNA! 🇦🇹

When we got Vienna on Monday, we thought, “Yeah, that’s doable.”
Fast forward a few days… OVER 1,200 MILES FROM HOME! 😳😂
And just to make life a little harder…
✈️ No planes. 🚆 Public transport ONLY. 🌍 4 countries crossed. ⏰ Early starts. 🌙 Very late nights. 🍫 And enough Tony’s chocolate to probably qualify as a food group! 🤣🤣🤣

We’ve spent what feels like our entire lives on trains, seeing four countries mainly through train windows, while frantically checking connections, platforms and timetables like our lives depended on it! 😂
And this race has already taught us a BIG lesson…

One wrong judgement can cost you several places in the rankings. 😬
Every decision matters. Every connection matters. And apparently, so does knowing which bloody train you’re supposed to get! 🤣

But…

WE AIN’T DOWN AND OUT! 💪🔥

We’ve made it to Vienna with better time than we thought before the 6pm cut-off tonight meaning we have had time for some R and R. Considering where we started and everything that’s happened along the way, we’re bloody proud of ourselves.
Now we get to take a breath, reflect on what we’ve learnt, get our heads together and prepare for the madness all over again tomorrow.

Because tomorrow morning…

🥁 DESTINATION 2 GETS REVEALED! 🥁
And we’re coming for it.
We need to claw back some time, and with the margins being so tight, we’re literally one train delay away from things changing massively! 😬🚆

But honestly, underneath all the tiredness, stress, questionable food choices and chocolate consumption 😂, this experience has already been incredible.

We’re visiting places I genuinely never thought I’d ever see, meeting the challenges head-on, making memories we’ll never forget… and most importantly, raising money for the hospice while we do it. ❤️

That’s the bit that keeps us going when the alarm goes off ridiculously early, when we’re exhausted, and when another train connection looks like it’s about to ruin our lives! 😂

Every donation, every message, every bit of support means more than you probably realise. It reminds us that we’re not just doing this for ourselves.
So if you’d still like to support us and help us raise money for the hospice, you can donate here:

https://click.contact.justgiving.com/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjUwMjF9AAYAAAAABdTupuhgwn40uuU5GPdAryaKa1YehlxuV_Xrs_PFFX3MO7CA1doiQDOWEMzDps0tEzb3LHzt7kYMzT62chE_E3yl0WsSIDfoFA

Donate to our hospice fundraiser ❤️
Right… OVER AND OUT. 🫡
Time for an early night… although knowing us, we’ll probably spend half of it planning tomorrow! 😂

⛴️ 🚗 🚆 Checkpoint 2… WE ARE COMING FOR YOU! 🔥🇪🇺
Let’s see what Europe throws at us next… 👀

04/10/2026

T H A N K Y O U ⭐️

Wow ! What a weekend ! We can’t thank you all enough for keeping us busy and running around ! It really does mean the world to us !

Just a reminder that we are now closed until Thursday 15th and we re open at 5pm

You may have seen what’s going on but tommorow morning at 8am myself Matt and my restaurant manager Harry set off on the journey of a life time. A journey and challenge we know very little about but are we ready to give it our all ! Just like the programme we are Racing Across Europe for the brilliant a place so close to my families heart. They have cared for some many of my closest family my Nana Joyce and my inspiration Auntie Debbie not to mention family friends and others too. This place is truly the epicentre of our city and a place where we all may need one day. The work they do is nothing short of just magic, giving Everyting for someone’s last moments and being there for families.

If anyone knows me they will know how much my Auntie Debbie meant to me. I only met her when I was 15 as we only found out my mum had a half sister but she don’t waste time making up for lost time. She was there for everyone and was a huge supporter of what I did. She was a massive fundraiser for Eden Valley hospice and spent time raising money through different events and being there for people int he same boat as her. But Time just ran out and our journey and time together ended far far too soon. The night she fell asleep I held her hand and made her a promise that I would carry on the support and love she shared to the hospice for the rest of my days and was the reason I signed us up for this huge challenge !

Tonight leaving work a certain little someone appeared with a little card and a banner ready to cheer us on ! My son, Harry’s godson and my 🌍 he didn’t meet his Auntie Debbie but I’ll make sure he knows who she was and what a legend she really was

Tonight is my last night at home for the next week before going into the unknown. Im going to miss my two biggest supporters everyday my husband Matthew and My Little one but these pictures to take with me will keep me going to get to the end ! 😢

We have raised so far just under £8,000 between us and we cannot thankyou all so much for doing it! We will be posting regular updates so you can see where we are at !

If you’d still like to donate whatever you can here’s our link

https://click.contact.justgiving.com/?qs=ABB7InYiOjEsImQiOjUwMTl9AAYAAAAABcIEIaFVNZRBnVXZJPQeNQ3EQcBBTthuU7gJcqy6AKD7-f0TZxX7spelpH0J4Vmm0Vxj1vMkQofyw0fVPgyqxLYENEgnrG-f5wFe

So that’s it it’s time for bed and ready for 8am for the big reveal on our first destination 🙈🙈

Auntie Debbie this one’s for you ♥️♥️♥️

⭐️ Faith, Hope and Believe ⭐️

29/09/2026

👨‍🍳 WE’RE HIRING – SECOND CHEF 👩‍🍳

In a world where everyone seems to be looking for chefs… it’s our turn! 😢

But this isn’t because someone has left us. Quite the opposite.

With us expanding to two sites, we need another talented chef to join the team, help us with the next chapter and, perhaps most importantly… help keep my mind sane! 😂

This is a real opportunity for someone to come in, become an important part of what we’re building and put their own stamp on an already successful business.

🍴 Second Chef
📅 4-day working week
☀️ Alternating Sundays off
🎄 Christmas Day & Boxing Day off
💷 Salary negotiable
💰 Share of staff tips every week
🚀 Immediate start available

All the key info is on the post below, or you can find the full job description and apply through our advert on Indeed.

Alternatively, drop us a message at [email protected].

Know a great chef who might fancy a change? Tag them or share this post with them! ❤️
Even if it has no relevance to you please just help us share this post to hopefully get the position filled quickly 🤞

26/09/2026

🎄✨ A LITTLE SNEAK PEEK OF THIS YEAR’S FESTIVE AFTERNOON TEA… ✨🎄
We had a bit of an unknown day today… 🤷‍♂️

With it being our last afternoon tea before we close for a week, we thought — why not give today’s guests a little sneak peek at what’s coming when our festive afternoon teas kick off at the start of October! 👀🎄

And honestly… you lot are in for a TREAT.

This year’s festive line-up includes:

🎅 Pig in blanket & caramelised onion quiche
🎄 Festive loaded Yorky pud
🐷 Pork, apple & sage sausage roll

And for the sweet side…

🍫 Matt’s chocolate orange brownie with fudge icing
🍎 Brown butter & malt cake with apples & cinnamon bun icing
🔥 Festive spiced crème brûlée

And just to make things even more exciting…

ALL of our festive afternoon tea dates are now SOLD OUT! 🤯

Not only sold out… they sold out in under 4 HOURS!

That’s over 400 seats gone already, and honestly, we cannot thank you enough. ❤️

So if you’re booked in for this one… you’re in for an absolute treat. 🎄✨

And if you missed out…

You’d better be ready next year! 👀😂

We cannot wait to get this one started! 🎅🍰🥂