The Regal (Lloyds No 1 Bar), Cambridge

This is a corner Spoon's pub and eatery, with rear patio area. It is the former Regal cinema, built in 1937, and indeed, a cinema still operates above it (the Picture House). The pub has the art deco touches to the plain brick and upper central colonnade. Like the distinguished previous reviewers, i felt the heart of the interior had been ripped out - it is on three levels, with stairs at the back leading to a balcony area, or down into the pit! Other than little touches, like the cloakroom, it does feel a little distant from its original function. There is a sofa area at the entrance, though most is given over to the usual Spoon's tables and chairs. Flags hand from the balcony and the walls have the usual pictures and info boards - including some on the spy circle. The place is tidy, but there were few in at 10am. The service was OK and the food i had, fine enough. There was no music and the the silent TVs were showing the news. The decor is one of flowery wallpaper, mainly. Beer; usual tap stuff with Abbot, Ruddles and around 6 other real ales. Sadly, as i am not addicted, i would not break my no beer before 10.30AM rule, so I just had a coffee as it was 10.20am. Yes, i would return, but in this case it isn't because of the building.

Built in 1937, this purpose built cinema was taken on by Wethersoons in 1999 and currently claims to be the largest pub in the country with a capacity to accommodate 1,300 people (not including the hundreds of Wetherspoon’s staff it would probably take to serve them all in a realistic time!). As one would expect, the interior is quite cavernous but is also quite dingy which would suit a pit pony but punters arriving from the street daylight will need some time for eye adjustments. There are a couple of smaller intimate sections but it is generally quite open plan. There is a mezzanine floor but this was closed for my vist (Saturday breakfast time so hardly surprising). A large sunken area at the rear houses a dance floor and bandstand like section containing a circular light rig and overlooked by a DJ booth between the front and rear sections. There is also a small outdoor area at the rear. Unlike ‘Spoons other cinema/theatre conversions that I have come across, the Regal doesn’t really have that much character and you don’t get any real historic feel for its previous use. The 10 hand pumps had a better selection of guest ales than I am used to seeing with the Lloyds 1 branches and to that end it serves its usual purpose although it is no competition for some of the city’s more specialized beer houses. For a breakfast pint it is fine although I suspect that when the sound is turned up and the city youth come out to play it is not a place for the 30 somethings plus. If nothing else though, you just have to say you’ve had a pint in the country’s biggest pub.

Formerly the Regal cinema, originally built in 1937 in Art Deco style and described at the time by attending film going audiences as a veritable palace, it later became an ABC Cinema until Wetherspoons turned it into a pub in 1999. So from veritable palace to large soleless, characterless barn some 60 years later. I’m not sure how much of the original Cinema features were available when Tim’s Empire took it over, but only a decent looking frontage and some period glass in the bog doors is all that remains now and you get the impression that a great opportunity was missed when considering some of the other Picture and Theatre Houses where Wetherspoons have kept, and in some cases, brought back to life the period features. As others have mentioned it is absolutely huge and on two levels. The ground floor is quite dark but a good feature is the outside drinking area out the back, again on two stories, which catches the afternoon sun. But you do have to share this with all the smokers and the view is drab offices and flats. And like every other large ‘spoons its all here. All forms of human life can be seen throughout the day, with additional stag and hen parties on a Friday and Saturday evening, dodgy service levels (I found the upstairs bar a better bet for prompt service), standard Wetherspoons food fare, and a decent ale choice. I utilised it a couple of times during the day over the weekend in Cambridge, and found it reliable for a pint and some promptly served ‘spoons scoff ,before moving on. And for anyone over 30 move on before 9.00PM you should. As it is situated on the main Cambridge Party street, Doorman start working from 6.00PM checking ID’s and it stays open till gone 1.00AM on a weekend and when we went past around midnight the queue of youth (some who must have had fake ID’s IMHO)waiting to be ID checked, stretched a good 30 metres down the street.

A lovely (and cavernous) art deco building, formerly a cinema, which oozes style and is claimed to be the largest pub in the UK. Situated over two levels, it can get a bit dark in places. The quality of the beer was very good and the range was enormous. However my enjoyment was completely ruined by my fish supper which was still frozen in the middle - appalling! Worth stopping for a pint and look at the architecture but I won't forgive them for the frozen fish - who do they think I am, Captain feckin' Birdseye?!?!?

Massive Wetherspoon's on 2 levels selling a very good range of real ales which were all in good condition on my visit.