The Mossy Well (JD Wetherspoon), Muswell Hill, N10

This is a massive new-build Wetherspoons pub on a prominent junction in the centre of Muswell Hill. You enter via a nice looking front patio space that looks out towards the aforementioned junction, emerging into the very modern looking front bar area. The flooring here is a mix of stone and bare floorboards and there are loads of good seating options available in a bright space that benefits from the large front windows that let plenty of light in. The servery is along the right hand wall and has a stone bar counter with a hefty pewter top. Plenty of high tables and stools fill the sizable area opposite, whilst over on the left hand side of the room, a recessed seating area looked very comfortable with lounge bar-style furniture in a space that seemed to afford more privacy that the rest of the pub. Steps take you down into the pub’s mid-section where a few unsightly pillars break up a carpeted space full of traditional pub furniture, wood panelled walls and old portraits. Passing a staircase, you find a couple more seating areas – the first has an Antic-style mismatch of chairs and a few comfy banquettes opposite the open kitchen, but is very much under the aforementioned staircase, making some tables feel a bit like you’re drinking in a broom cupboard. The other area is a bare boarded space with basic tables and chairs in a rear section that has been made to look a bit like a conservatory, with lots of windows, bright paintings and plenty of potted plants. From here you can head out to the rear terrace and courtyard garden, although it was roped off on my visit, so I didn’t get to explore. Upstairs there is a mezzanine seating area with a good deal more seating overlooking the main bar area. The staff here were incredibly slow, even by Wetherspoons’ standards, but their manager was super-proactive, serving several people at once and probably taking more money than the rest of his team combined. He served me a pint of Purity Saddle Black IPA – one of seven guest ales available alongside four ‘Spoons regulars – which was in great shape, and the food I had here was as swift and reliable as always. I think this is a pretty good ‘Spoons with plenty of different areas to suit different types of customer. I particularly liked the contrast of modern and traditional and though both of these styles worked well within the same pub. I’d be very happy if this was my local ‘Spoons and hope some of their other new-build ventures work out as well as this one.

The Mossy Well is a nice looking Spoons that is situated at the top of Muswell Hill. Once inside this is a very large Spoons with different areas on different levels,the main bar area is a long oblong shaped room with the bar to the front left,this room runs to the rear,the seating is very different to any of the many Spoons i have been in,but there is some bench seating and a few normal tables and chairs. The rear area is down steps,plus there is an upstairs area to the front,all very complicated in trying to describe. I had a drink of Trumans Zephyr which went down very well,the other beers noted were Prescott Grand Prix plus Spoons regulars Doom Bar and Abbot,there were more guest beers on i failed to note due to the pub being very busy. I thought this was a decent Spoons and better than a lot i have been in. Pub visited 4/8/2016

Situated on the South side of the summit of Muswell Hill is JDW's latest London offering. Looking at it from outside it seems to be rather like a very large detached house. There are steps leading up to it through a front terrace with tables and chairs. There must be another way in as the whole place is wheelchair friendly including a lift inside down the few steps from the bar area. As you enter there is a wooden floored high ceilinged bar area with mostly tall tables and the bar on the right. There are some booths over to the left and there is also an upstairs area which I didn't look into but seemed to be accessed only from a staircase further back. Behind the bar area some steps or a small lift for wheelchairs lead to a very pleasant area with an assortment of tables and chairs, I don't think any of the furnishings were standard JDW. This area also includes a huge fireplace which wasn't lit on my visit. Further back some doors lead to a patio and terrace plus a garden that sounds like they've really gone to town on but as it was a dank November afternoon so I didn't go and look. The bar has two sets of six hand pumps but overall the choice was a bit disappointing as there were the two GK beers and all three regular national Spoons beers (Doom Bore, Pride and Adnam's Broadside) even though many outlets just sell Doom Bore nowadays. The three Locale options were all from the rather dull Sambrook's, Wandle, Junction and Pumphouse Pale. This left just the Hook Norton International AFO which it turned out wasn't yet on, Wood's Christmas Cracker, Jenning's Snecklifter and Hobgoblin Gold. I went for the Junction (£2.49) which was about as good as it's ever going to be and although not cheap for a Spoons was actually less expensive than I expected and in any case I had a CAMRA voucher with me. The food clubs looked about a quid dearer than the usual prices. All in all it seems to be a pretty good new Spoons and I will definitely return.