The Central Hotel (JD Wetherspoon), Deeside

The Central Hotel is a Wetherspoons in an imposing building on Shotton’s main drag next to the railway station. Café seating out the front was popular during a recent sunny Friday afternoon visit not long after lunch. The pub itself was also fairly busy with a mix of addled locals and passers through such as myself. The large interior has seating up the left and in the front with a serving counter that runs up the right-hand wall. Two banks of five hand pumps were doubled up with GK Abbot Ale, Oakham’s JHB, Doom Bar, Peerless’s Hoi Polloi and Southwark Brewery’s Mayflower Session IPA. The décor is typical JDW with the addition of many steel industry related pictures and articles on the walls. Yes, the toilets are a way upstairs! I found the service to be friendly, but I feel this place was busy mainly due to lack of choice.

Impressive old red brick building, hosting an old school and slightly shabby Spoons-by-numbers in the ‘Edwardian brown’ décor beloved of older JDWs. Two guest ales; Purple Moose Dark and Rudgate Valkyrie and sadly both were unfinishable (NBSS 1.5 x2). Service was at least pleasant, a shame that the beer was well-below acceptable; it’s hardly likely to tempt the keg-drinking locals. A mystery how this made the Good Beer Guide - are the local CAMRA branch that desperate to make up their numbers? 4.5

Beer wise, this is by far your best bet in Shotton. Next to Shotton high level train station (Bidston/Wrexham line) and up the road from Shotton low level (Chester/Holyhead) station. A bit Wethers-by-numbers, including climb to toilets, this open plan pub isn't the worst. That said, it ain't great either but as its by the station and trains are hourly at best then its fine instead of waiting on the platforms. As noted, it doesn't have the largest selection of real ales for a Wethers but it beats the nearby Clwyd hands down. The hidden Castle pub nearby is a better pub if you're wanting a more traditional boozer.

Standard Wetherspoons, next to railway station & on busy main road. Some seating in the front of the pub.