St Matthews Hall (JD Wetherspoon), Walsall

Called in for a quick one yesterday before going into Walsall beer festival. Their beer festival had recently started so we had an American ale plus Elgoods and Robinsons beers. They also had the Lancaster one plus usual Wetherspoon beers, so not a bad selection. Service was ok when we were there. Different levels split it a bit so it did not look like a big barn of a place.

Left before being served after a ridiculously long wait. Staff should also be aware of who needs serving next, not just flounce in and say "Who's next?". There's too much emphasis on tea and coffee in this "pub". Really wanted to enjoy myself here, but how can you?

A detached Wetherspoons Lloyds Bar with a rear patio area. The building is rather incongruous, being a neo-classical styled Doric columned temple in Walsall! The building was formerly Martha's Vinyard. In previous incarnations it was a courthouse and originally the first library in Walsall. The interior is an open plan straight room, with a side area, a conservatory down a few steps and the serving bar to the left on entry. The decor is a complete mix including; terquoise, wood panel and exposed brick in the main room and dark green, red and wood floor in the side area. It is of course laid out for food and the food is of general Spoons standard. There are histoical information boards and famous Walsall people info panels, as well as some old pennies hanging from the ceiling and old books as a homage to the building's past. There is no TV and there was no music. The service is better than most Spoons and the clintele more mature than the Spoons norm. Beer; usual tap stuff with Abbott, Ruddles, Hobgoblin, Butcombe Bitter, Exmoor Stallion and Cotleigh Sea Hawk on handpull. The quality was the usual up and down. I have visited on three occasions and have had a couple of decent pints, a couple of mediocre and couple of flatter pints. It currently looks more decent and cleaner than other Spoons and there seems to be more and friendlier staff, as well as a nicer clientele. The food and beer seems to be of similar quality.

Re-opening on July 22nd as a Wetherspoons Lloyds No 1 bar