The Shakespeare's Head (JD Wetherspoon), Holborn, WC2

Official site of The Shakespeare's Head (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Shakespeare's Head (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Large, standard Wetherspoons, some booth seating towards the rear, or usual tables/chairs

Just down the road from Holborn station, this is a huge Wetherspoons pub set in a former bank, although notably lacking the splendour and finery of some of the chain’s other bank conversions. The pub takes its name from a revered pub of the same name which stood on the site of the modern day Africa House and attracted many literary minds. Today it is mainly tourists and businessmen who find their way here, making for a bit of a flat atmosphere, not helped by the vast, soulless interior. Essentially comprising one huge, single room, extending a remarkable distance from front to back, the pub presents several seating areas and a servery midway down the left hand side. The front section is carpeted and has loads of seating under relatively small front windows and the usual ‘Spoons information boards. The mid section has checkerboard tile flooring opposite the bar, lots of high tables and stools and some reasonably attractive modern glass partitioning screens. A large rear section is also carpeted and has some long, curved banquettes under large bay windows with semi educational Shakespeare themed boards suspended above each table. Further on is a split level seating area with handwriting wallpaper, some large potted plants and a few old pictures on the walls. The Shakespeare theme is remarkably vague, although I did notice a few quotes and images inlaid into the bar back. There are twelve handpulls on the bar and these were dispensing five ‘Spoons regulars and seven guest ales on my visit. I tried a very drinkable pint of Mauldons Silver Adder, whilst another punter was raving about the quality of one of the Adnams beers available. I also noticed some ‘craft’ beers were being dispensed from barrels racked up on the bar back, although I couldn’t make out if they were genuine or not. I couldn’t quite get my head around whether this was a reasonable ‘Spoons or a really dreadful one. There were certainly aspects which leant towards the latter, most notably the customer mix and the cavernous interior, but on balance I think it has enough redeeming features to make it worth a second look, most notably the prospect of some reliable beer.