The Red Lion (JD Wetherspoon), Doncaster

Spoons hotel in an historic building, although the interior has been much gutted so few original features remain. Worth walking round a bit, as it can be busier in some areas than others. Usual features, but it did have 6 guest ales including several from Gorilla/Mad Ape.

A very large spoons with a counter down the left hand side, usual seating arrangements and upstairs long distance hike to toilets. Rammed on a race day, so couldn’t see much not even the garden room down the side, fortunately I got behind a fat lass so was able to follow her to the counter with her clearing the way.

The Red Lion page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.com

The Red Lion page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Refurbished since my previous visit. The bar is now "to the back and to the left". Some horse racing memorabilia dotted about.

This is one of JDW's hotels but on my arrival here on a Saturday afternoon it seemed like any other rammed town JDW. It was converted to one of their hotels in 2015 and greatly extended. It was long, narrow and hopelessly busy. I noticed the twelve hand pumps had the IPA version of the JDW Trio Of Doom, an Old Mill beer, Springhead Roaring Meg, a couple available soon and North Cotswold Spring OSM. I went for the Roaring Meg (£2.25) which was excellent. I was put off by the fact that it was so busy but I suspect it's normally OK.

A much-larger-than-it-initially-looks 'spoons on the southern edge of the Market Place, with a single-storey modern extension at the back of historic inn frontage. A mix of furniture and decor in a variety of styles in the various seating / dining areas. Also has a substantial side and rear patio beer garden divided into separate areas for smokers and non-gaspers. Not a bad selection of real ales from ten of 12 handpumps, including five festival beers and the 6.6 % Exmoor Beast at a remarkable £1.59 as a manager's special, but I opted for the more-local Dukeries Mining Stout (£2.09).