The Reginald Mitchell (JD Wetherspoon), Hanley, Stoke-On-Trent

The Reginald Mitchell is a very large pub, even for Wetherspoons standards. Enquiring about the large round ceiling with skylights and vents the barman informed me that this building used to be a meat market. I’m sure it still is at the weekend! Two banks of six hand pumps sit on the long bar in amongst the standard and premium keg. Ruddles, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Greene King’s Abbot Ale, Oakham Brewery’s Bishops Farewell, Titanic Brewery’s Plum Porter, Pedigree and Robinson’s Trooper were all available. This place was OK during my recent late midweek evening visit, but the sheer size suggests it gets a bit messy in here at the weekend.

Named after the Spitfire inventor, and housed in the former market buildings, this is now a substantial 'spoons with bars and seating / dining areas on two levels around a central atrium. However, apart from its size, there is otherwise little to distinguish this outlet from many others. Worse still, the management decided that mid-afternoon on a Saturday was a good time to clean the beer lines, meaning that only three real ales were available from the various handpumps on both counters: Doom Bar, Abbot and the Wincle Sir Philip.

A very impressive GII listed building that has served as a market and a shopping centre in the past before being revived by Tim Martin’s deep pockets. It’s a pretty impressive conversion over two tiers, with an amazing high roof skylight in the central space of the room, along with decorative supporting pillars. One downside in the evening is the lack of lighting, it was like drinking in a basement. A good range of guest ales on - Wincle Wibbly Wallaby, Wincle Sir Phillip (good) 2x Black Hole beers (Super Nova was fair) plus one from Cross Bay. The internal architecture saves this one from being a run-of-the-mill Spoons and veers it to being relatively pleasant.

Located in the heart of Hanley, The Reginald Mitchell is a large Wetherspoons pub sited in a spectacular Grade II listed building that was originally the town’s meat market before closing in 1987 and enduring a brief spell as a shopping centre. It’s a fine conversion, split across two floors and making good use of the building’s features. You can enter from either side of the building, with each entrance leading you into a low ceilinged seating area, both of which are carpeted and offer a good mix of seating options, including a raised platform at one end which is a nice bright spot under the large windows. The star of the pub is the mid-section – a vast open space with an amazing high ceiling boasting huge skylights and original decorative features, supported by a couple of bulky pillars. There is a tile floored seating area to one side and a good deal of standing room around the servery to the other side. A staircase leads up to a mezzanine area with a lot more standard seating options and its own servery. The pub has been decorated with a lot of pictures and technical drawings of the Spitfire, the invention of which was Reginald Mitchell’s claim to fame. The usual local info boards were dotted around as per normal and there were a couple of TV screens showing rolling news channels. I counted seven guest ales at the bar and just two of the usual ‘Spoons regular beers, which seems like a very good ratio to me. I turned up nice and early for breakfast, so didn't fancy a pint, but the food was of the usual reliable, no fuss variety and the staff were a very friendly and good humoured bunch. I thought this was a very good conversion of a building which the people of Hanley should be proud of and glad that they are still able to access. The ale range seemed pretty good to me, there were plenty of good spots to enjoy the interior and the mid-section of the pub makes a visit worthwhile on its own. I enjoyed this ‘Spoons and would like to return to try some of their beer next time.