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The Regal (JD Wetherspoon), Gloucester
Gloucester
GL1 1RP
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
hondo . left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Spoons cinema conversion with a split level interior and a large glass wall at one end. Visit livened up by an 11:00 am fight taking place in the pub.
On 20th October 2022
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2883 recommendations about 2820 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Helen Iwanczuk left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
I have come to the conclusion that The Regal, is not one of the best Wetherspoons pubs. Don't get me wrong, I love the fact that the building was once a cinema, I can imagine that it is more profitable as a pub, then it ever was as a cinema. But if like my partner and I, you had just returned from a long bus journey and wanted a refreshing cuppa, the last place you would come to is The Regal on a Saturday afternoon, when there is sport on the box. The place was heaving, the only table we could find was in a grim little alcove next to the back exit. All of the tables in the alcove, were stacked high with dinner plates ect. Granted, someone came along and cleared the debris away.
Anyway, we asked for some tea, and were given two horrible tasting coffees! I could rant on for a further few sentences, but I'll just say that The Regal is always too crowded to enjoy a leisurely drink. It is not a destination pub in my opinion.
On 2nd February 2020
- rating: 5
[User has posted 256 recommendations about 196 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Blackthorn _ left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Located in the heart of Gloucester’s shopping area facing on to a pedestrianised square, this is quite clearly a cinema conversion going on both the appearance as well as the name. It actually has something of an Art Deco look to it, even though it was not built until the 1950’s according to a short history of the building displayed inside.
Internally, the bulk of the pub is down a few steps to a subterranean level, with smaller street level areas at either end. The first of these was a reasonable size and was quite elegant in some ways with a wooden bookshelf covering the entire wall off to the left. Once down in to the lower level it opened out somewhat, although the ceiling here was quite low before you get to a quite impressive double height area at the far end. This was presumably the main auditorium at one time, with the original screen being replaced with a large arched window looking out on to the decked patio area. The ceiling here was quite ornate with large, recessed sections set in to it which were clad with wood panelling. Various cinematic artefacts were dotted around including a number of model biplanes, a couple of golden statuettes and a giant gorilla, along with a New York skyline filling the entire wall of the balcony that overlooked the auditorium. A number of old photographs and notes about Gloucester related facts were on the walls, and I learnt that the original Humpty Dumpty was in fact a “siege machine” developed during the siege of Gloucester in 1643. A projector screen was up in one corner but this was not in use on my visit.
Despite two banks of six hand pumps on the bar, the majority were doubled up leaving Doom Bar, Abbot Ale, Ruddles Best, Ubu Purity, Loddon Forbury Lion, Goffs Black Knight and Salopian Panacea as the available choice. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold, Thatcher’s Haze, Magners, Strongbow, Strongbow Dark Fruit and Stowford Press. Overall, this was somewhat better than I had expected given it’s location, and I’d be happy to pop in again if passing.
On 10th January 2019
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1951 recommendations about 1864 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Wetherspoons cinema conversion and they've done a decent job on this one. Enter down some steps to the sunken level bar area. Usually it's gloomy in these situations but at the rear of the pub is floor-to-ceiling plate glass which lets in a huge amount of light that penetrates through the pub. In this rear section is a raised seating area, with two outsized Oscars to greet you on either side. When sat here you can see that in the ceiling recess they have recreated the New York skyline replete with jumbo King Kong, who on my visit was dressed in an England kit. 12 pumps but every ale was doubled up, leaving just the three genuine guests. I went for the Truman's Swift for a quid which wasn't the best and had a lot of yeast babies in the bottom of the glass; whether that's the fault of the brewer or pub was hard to know. Anyway it’s a fair Spoons and worth a visit for King Kong.
On 14th July 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5108 recommendations about 5091 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Six pumps doubled up with not a very inspiring choice of ales. I did spot one from Dukeries Brewery from Nottingham Lord Furnival, a strong golden ale, which was ok. The pub was very busy on our Friday lunchtime visit with the majority of the customers using the rear part of the pub, as this area has the most space and plenty of natural light from the bank of large windows that lead onto the rear patio area.
Anyway am glad I had a good wander round and saw the New York city model, where the original cinema screen was housed along with King Kong climbing the Empire State.
On 26th February 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
According to What Pub this was recently converted to a Lloyds. I saw no sign of this but it was so busy I didn't get much of a look round. This cinema conversion has been more than well described below.
The beer choice from the 12 hand pumps was a bit disappointing with the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up, two ciders, Moles Gold, Green Jack Lurcher Stout and two festival ales. I went for the Lurcher Stout (£2.39) which was in good nick.
This isn't a bad Spoons but not one of their best.
On 25th October 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Jane Smith left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Nice enough Wetherspoons with spacious beer garden.
On 19th September 2014
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2 recommendations about 2 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
A very well refurbished JDW with some clever use of the original features of the cinema. Very busy on our Wednesday lunchtime visit, mainly with shoppers popping in for something to eat. Efficient bar staff and a good range of guest ales available, so fair play to the management here. It's a better than average JDW and as Delboy says, well worth a visit for King Kong alone.
On 27th December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Old Boots left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Obviously a former cinema in a deco style, building started in 1939 but the cinema didn't open until 1956 and it closed in 1990 eventually reopening as a JDW. Entry is down a staircase from street level into a large open space with facilities down one side and the counter down the other all under a false ceiling. At the “screen” end the roof and width open out in a seating area, where the screen used to be is a glass wall giving access to the garden. This far end is also home to a large King Kong complete with attacking aeroplanes. The cinema theme is continued in a décor of film stills from the 30s and 40s and an “Oscar” statue stands either side of the rear staircase. The usual JDW standards plus locals from Wickwar and Gloucester. Not a bad 'spoons by any standards.
On 8th October 2012
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 3276 recommendations about 2982 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Regal (JD Wetherspoon)
Massive open space Wetherspoon's that has been converted from a cinema.There was a very good selection of real ales and most of them were local ales.
On 6th June 2011
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]