Inspiration has been taken from a London pub and a New York saloon to transform a former bank building in Brisbane's CBD into a luxurious bar.

Town planners Bartley Burns submitted a development application on behalf of its client, Penny Black Hotel, to Brisbane City Council last month proposing to establish a bar in the vacant heritage-listed Bank of New South Wales building in the Queen Street Mall.

Developers have taken inspiration from London's Old Bank of England pub for a new bar at 33 Queen Street. Credit:BCC application

In the development application submitted to the council, images of the bar at New York's Nomad Hotel and the interior of The Old Bank of England pub in London were shown as part of the proposed plans.

Both bars looked to be set in a similar building to the Brisbane site and featured dark mahogany and elegant finishes.