Hamilton Hall (JD Wetherspoon), EC2

This station concourse bar is spread over two levels, a large open bar with a mezzanine. There are serveries on both levels, although the upstairs one didn't seem to be operating. The former ballroom of the Great Eastern Hotel, the pub is impressive to enter, with beautifully restored plaster mouldings and huge wall mirrors. It opened in 1991 and has been recently redocorated. I found the staff inefficient and unfriendly, the customers a mix of travellers, ale lovers and people who just wanted a beer and a lunchtime snack. The range of beers on was disappointing – four ales and one cider on draft. I had a pint of Caledonian Deuchres which was in good condition and rather enjoyable. Worthwhile, and a great place to start a crawl.

If pubs can be described as beautiful then this one is. Mobbed with late night drinkers but the service was fast and friendly.(not often you hear that about a Wetherspoon pub.)Both beers I tried were superb.

Closed on 19th October for a six-week refurbishment, which will hopefully mean they fix the ceiling and the scaffolding that has been a feature for months will go.

Located inside a former hotel ballroom, the Hamilton Hall is a particularly decorative and spacious Wetherspoons pub, forming part of the Liverpool Street station buildings. The scale of the room, with its large open area around the servery and high ceilings, certainly creates the feel of a drinking barn, but this is at odds with the ornate interior which boasts a number of large ornamented wall paintings and a most impressive ceiling with huge candelabras and all manner of decorative touches. Two principal seating areas exist on the ground floor, with the left hand side of the room practically filled with tables and chairs (and scaffolding on my recent visit), whilst a more modest strip of seating runs along the front windows. To the right of the bar, a staircase leads up to a surprisingly large gallery with a part tile, part carpet floor. There’s plenty of comfortable seating available and I thought it was quite a nice spot, especially if you can get a view overlooking the bar below. There is a bar upstairs, which has a limited number of hand pumps, but it’s best to order at the main bar before moving upstairs, as there are ten hand pumps there which were offering five or six guest ales and a real cider, plus a few ‘Spoons regulars on my visit. I tried the Adnams Kristal White (£3.10), which was decent enough and contrary to some of the experiences noted below, I found the staff to be pretty efficient as far as ‘Spoons staff go. The grand interior singles this place out above the masses of identikit Wetherspoons pubs up and down the country. I’m not convinced that there is a stand-out pub near Liverpool Street station, so the Hamilton Hall is certainly worth a look on occasion when passing through the area.