The Wagon Works (JD Wetherspoon), Eastleigh

The Wagon Works is an L-shaped Wetherspoons on the other side of the road opposite Eastleigh Railway Station. It was very busy during a recent Thursday after work visit, but at least the customers were all waiting along the central L-shaped bar rather than forming a single file snake around the pub. A bank of five hand pumps are supported up each side of the bar with the usual three being available alongside Brains SA, Hobgoblin Ruby, Stone Henge Ales’ Sign of Spring and Elgood’s Patron Saint. The service was friendly, but the mix of standard and high tables as well as some booths in the front corner were all being used so I supped up pretty quick and moved on.

Small and intensely gloomy Spoons opposite the station entrance. L shaped interior which is relatively pleasant, décor-wise - perhaps the conversion from a pub rather than shop helps in this regard. Two guest cask from Stonehenge, my Bustard was in good shape (NBSS 3.5) and served-up by a friendly barman. If Timbo could see his way to up the bulb wattage, I'll do likewise with my score. 6.5

This JDW which was an original pub called the Home Tavern is named after the huge rail construction, maintenance and stabling sites nearby that are now a shadow of what they once were. You can actually see the pub from the trains and the station as it's just across the road. It's a large corner pub that my old Hampshire beer guide reveals was a Whitbread pub. It's a roughly L shaped room with better than average fixtures and fittings. The bar has ten hand pumps which had one available soon, GK Ruddles, Doom Bore, MASH Pale, Piddle Mad Hare, Itchen Valley Pure Gold, Old Peculier, Bowman's Swift One, Wild Weather Big Muddy and Ringwood 49er. I went for the Mad Hare (£2.59) which was in excellent condition. Although a bit more expensive than most, I found this to be a good Spoons especially when compared to their Southampton outlets.

A pleasant pub by JDW's standards, this one is well described by JAQPTIO, below, and is complemented with the usual mute gaming machines. The staff were friendly enough, but there were too many young children running around for my liking, Three ales on, plus two 'coming soon', and Black Dragon cider boxed behind the bar. I had a pint of Amber Mash, which was OK but left a bit of an aftertaste. I'd be happy to drink here again.