The Moon Under Water (JD Wetherspoon), Wigan

Old skool Victoriana-styled JDW. Quite nice if a bit battered and it felt more characterful than the average Spoons, with plenty of distinct areas and cubby holes over a couple of levels. Four guests and my Robbies Tom & Berry was an excellent drop (NBSS 4). I was impressed and I’d certainly pop in again next time, unusually I didn’t eat in here because I was already two pies to the good by this point, this being Wigan and me being a fat git tourist. 7.5

This is an older style Spoons which was busy at the time of my visit at 11:30 on Wednesday, with a mix of people from the tail end of breakfast, those wanting a drink, and those waiting for the lunchtime menu. There are two distinct sections as well as stairs leading up to what looked like a small mezzanine style seating area (not investigated). At the bar, two banks of six hand pulls, the two banks being duplicated and all were clipped and ready for action. The usual trio featured plus three guests. Not a wild choice of styles with at least two of the guests being bitters or pale ales. Standard Spoons pricing of course with guest ales currently £2.46 a pint. Service was pretty efficient.

The Moon Under Water is a Wetherspoons with open plan seating down the right hand side with steps up to the bar area along the left wall. More seating is found at the rear where steps lead up to smaller seating areas on the way to the rear entrance on a narrow alley. Standard and premium keg are available from the bar and the two banks of six handpumps were drawing mainstream cask alongside Beartown Brewery’s Kodiak and Wily Fox Brewery’s Dark Flagon. Food is available, I went for a burger which as usual wasn’t the greatest, but was cheap and lined the stomach. This isn’t the biggest Spoons I’ve been in, but it still retains the JDW vibe.