The Metropolitan Bar (JD Wetherspoon), NW1

First visit to this one in a long while and it had a few things going for it on the day. Needed to be close to Baker Street tube and this couldn’t be closer. The small unassuming entrance is the definition of entering a Tardis and the huge internal room spreads over the top of the station. An interesting bar room that as Aqualung reported below, the official Spoons line would have you believe was the Metropolitan Railway's Company Headquarters in the 1930’s. A colleague with more knowledge on this area than me says it was a high end restaurant called Chiltern Court which closed in the mid 70’s and If you ever watch the documentary ’MetroLand’ with John Betjeman it features at the start. At some point the building was also used as the recruitment centre for London Underground, but that could have been in the space above, that were offices before they were turned into posh flats. Then it was closed for decades, so good on Tim Martin and Spoons for getting it open as a pub. In that respect It also benefits from spacious toilets that can be accessed without having to go into the bar ( noted for future use). 12 Ale pumps with only two of the members of the Trilogy of Doom taking up three, although Doombar wasted another. But with Thornbridge Jaipur and Titanic Plum Porter alongside interesting offerings from Portobello Brewery, Twickenham Fine Ales and Sambrooks, the line up wasn’t too shabby. And the Titanic Plum Porter at under £4.50 is not to be sniffed at in NW1. My colleague also commented that it is a favourite at the weekends for the out of town football supporter hoards when their team is playing a London club, and it gets overrun by posh twats ( his description not mine) at close of play on a Lords Test match due to its relatively short distance from St Johns Wood. None of that for me on a relaxing late Tuesday lunchtime and we experienced decent service levels ( good emphasis on table clearing and wiping) and the Plum Porter was very decent, and the decor is very pleasant to stare at whilst drinking it.

Not Spoons’s best effort, though it was probably quite impressive in its original form as a restaurant. The building is impressive, but the business isn’t. The staff were less than impressive, the other customers a bit weird, the atmosphere distinctly lacking. The gaming machines were off, the TV was showing sports. The ales on draught were the usual trio plus Exmoor Gold, Peloton and Freestyle from Sambrooks, Jaipur and Buckingham Best. No real ciders available, but there was the usual array of keg and bottled stuff. The beer was its saving grace.

A huge Spoons lacking in any ambiance, usual suspect beers with the exception of Saltaire Aquila served in fair condition.

Official site of The Metropolitan Bar (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Metropolitan Bar (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

I had high hopes - the main room is very beautiful indeed although it lacks atmosphere. Sadly, poorest Spoons I have visited for a while - staff were clueless and unhelpful, tables dirty, and the breakfast was a shocker - bacon cooked on a radiator, toast stuck together, beans cold etc. perhaps the Oakham Black Magic would have saved the day but it was too early for beer. Doubt I’ll bother with this one again.

Right next to an exit from Baker Street tube,the entrance is rather dull with a low ceiling walk way with a few tables and chairs to the side and in a rear alcove.However the main body of the pub is impressive,a very high ceiling in red with good cornicing and coats of arms .Parquet flooring and impressive globe hanging lights.The furniture is the usual 'spoons mix,some seating booths,high tables opposite the bar and some curved banquettes. There are two ranks of five handpumps with the trio of doom regulars doubled up (GK Abbot,IPA and Doom Bar) leaving on my trip just three guests Fullers London Pride,Mihi NZ Pale(international beer festival) and Titanic Nine Tenths Below (Cloudy ,tangy,NBSS 1.5,the pint was not finished ) With a very transient customer base ,seemingly no one could be bothered to provide decent ale,even the pricing was at a 'spoons premium .Interesting interior but terrible drinking experience ,this 'spoons can be easily avoided.

Large Spoons right next to the tube station. Gets rammed when there is a match at Wembley. From what I could see there was a decent choice of beers but ruined by the curse of the plastic glass!

Well described in previous reviews , very busy on a Sunday morning with mainly Lincoln and Shrewsbury fans on their way to Wembley . Service was OK if a bit slow , my Trumans Swift was decent enough to warrant a couple of pints .