The Bell (JD Wetherspoon), Salisbury

A lovely looking Spoons in a small town that doesn't seem big enough to support one (until you see the thousands of new dwellings going up on the outskirts!). Converted from a failing pub in 2012, it’s an old building with leaded glass windows in situ and lots of external flora. A rambling warren inside, the area to the right on entering is the nicest with street views, large black and white pictures of Stonehenge etc and a rather natty multi coloured blue tiling surround. The bits further back are dark wood panelled, classic Spoons feel. Two guests at the bar, I went for the Glamorgan Jemima Pitchfork and it was in excellent shape (NBSS 4). So a good all-rounder and one of the better examples of the JDW estate at present. Easily the best pub in Amesbury, that's for sure. 7.5

This old listed pub was saved from an uncertain future some five years ago when Wetherspoons took it over. Inside it's a rambling old place with several small areas dotted around the main bar area on the right and a patio further on. There's quite a lot of wood panelling used in these areas. On my Tuesday midday visit it seemed to be mostly people coming in to eat but there was a table with a couple of blokes pondering over the horse racing fields. The bar has ten hand pumps which had the two GK beers, Stonehenge Danish Dynamite and Butcombe Rare Breed all doubled up then a cider and one available soon. I went for the Danish Dynamite (£2.09) which was in fairly good condition. I stayed here for a while and noticed there were three ciders in the fridge and the menu said they were from £2.45 which is much cheaper than most Spoons. I went for the Hogfather (£2.29) and the Thistly Cross (£2.35) which were good and cheaper than expected. Despite not having a great choice of beers I quite liked this one.