The Earl of Dalkeith (JD Wetherspoon), Kettering

Old skool (1996) dark wood JDW over two tiers with mezzanine upper; despite that description, it’s actually a fairly bijou example of the chain. Three guest ales, my Loch Lomond Auld was indeed, a bit flat but drinkable (NBSS 2.5) and likely towards the end; decided to dump and grab a Gadds Stout which was better and more befitting the pub’s GBG status (NBSS 3.5).

Small to mid sized spoons, it is the only Good Beer Guide listed pub in Kettering centre which tells you everything you need to know about the town and its pubs. The ground floor has various floor levels presumably from its previous use as a furniture shop. At the back a staircase leads to a mezzanine and first floor which of course has the toilets but is interestingly done out partly as a library. A dog leg counter sits on the ground floor to the right with two banks of six pulls, terrible trio on both banks and festival beers on the other pulls bar one blank. Usual T-Bar arrangement and you can fill in the furniture arrangements yourself. Decor is old photos of the sadly lost town and some local history panels, mainly of local worthies. The front windows are fairly stylish Art Deco ones possibly partly original. Pretty busy on my Wednesday afternoon visit.

Fairly central branch of Wetherspoon's. This one occupies a fairly small space with seating boosted by an upstairs balcony area. There are a few fruit machines to the side of the stairs. A typical 'spoon's crowd were in on a Sunday evening. I decided to avail myself of an offer on the gammon and chips, which was fairly decent. On the bar, were the usual beers - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar. Guests were Beartown Bruin's, Magpie Jay IPA & Exmoor Beast. There was no real cider. As Wetherspoon's go, this was ok, but there are better pubs (and clubs) in Kettering.

A decent Spoons this one with an upper level, good staff and well kept beer

Te Earl of Dalkeith is a relatively small Wetherspoons with some seating around the entrance before a couple of steps that lead up to lots of high tables and a flight of stairs at the rear that climb to a U-shaped seating area with balcony that overlooks below. The bar on the right wall supports standard and premium keg and there are two banks of six hand pumps. These were drawing Phipps NBC, Grainstore’s Zahara and JW Lees Plum Pudding alongside the usual JDW suspects.

Usual Wetherspoons decor, but not uninviting. My past couple of visits have seen Black Swan Mild and Rutland Osprey Bitter amongst the ale options. Has a covered patio area down the side of the pub itself. As always with Spoons, good prices for food and drink.

As noted by others, this is an old-school 'spoons with lots of dark wood furniture and panelling. As a result, the bar is rather gloomy (despite being partially opened out at first floor level), although the seating / dining area off to one side has lots of windows. Further space in the 'L'-shaped upstairs room. Fair choice from eight of ten handpumps, and the Yeovil Star Gazer was fine value at just £1.99 (and the food is still cheaper than normal too).