The Tim Bobbin (JD Wetherspoon), Urmston, Manchester

Formerly a cinema with an interesting Art Deco facade, but a standard suburban interior unfortunately (although it has large windows along the frontage and is well lit by the bar, so brighter inside than many such 'spoons). A few more tables can also be found on the narrow front patio terrace. The cask beers included the expected Ruddles, Doom Bar and Abbot plus Poet's Dream from Brightside (which seems to have been adopted as the 'house' beer). However, there were three more guests among the total of 12 handpumps, all at a remarkable 99p 'managers special' on my visit: Rudgate Jorvik Blonde, Lucy from Strawberry Fields and Acorn's Long Weekend (in good enough shape, given the price).

Just to update on my earlier review following a re-visit about a month ago. Still has 12 pumps split across three banks. The third bank was definitely duplicated. Service was slow. Friday lunchtime and they have one member of staff serving, so if you get stuck behind a food order like I did you could almost die of thirst. Plenty of time to study the pumps which at the time of my visit were offering Stone Cutter by Lymestone, Moorhouses Blonde Witch, Otter Amber, Oakham Citra and some Royal Wedding themed ale. Plus Abbot Ale and Doom Bar (like you care). There are better places in Urmston without a shadow of a doubt (and no doubt some worse too).

Have been a few times on and off over the past year or so. It can be quite lively even on a Friday lunchtime. There are 12 hand pumps split across three banks, but I often find one of the banks contains ale that is unavailable. Even taking this into account there is usually a decent rotating selection on offer once you have discounted the Greene King IPA, Doom Bar, Ruddles, etc. Service can sometimes be a bit slow but that's about standard in a busy Spoons.

This is a fairly typical smaller suburban Spoons. Before you enter there are some tables and chairs on a patio leading into a rectangular room with raised areas either side at the front. There are some exposed aircon ducts on the ceiling. I did notice that the food here is cheaper than average. I was here on a Thursday morning so it wasn't that busy. The bar has three sets of four hand pumps which had one devoted to festival ciders which were in the fridge. The others between them had one unused, the JDW Trio Of Doom, Beartown Bearly Literate & Bearass, Salopian Shropshire Gold and Purity Mad Goose. I went for the Bearly Literate which went down a treat with a JDW breakfast. I thought this was a decent Spoons.

A neat little JDW with lots of industrial piping on the ceiling, but not much else in the way of features. As this used to be the electricity showroom, I'm not convinced that these are original. The outside looks better and has a similar design to a cinema. Very comfortable throughout with a mainly older clientele during my Friday, late afternoon visit. The scrote level was very low with just the 2 dodgy characters in the place. Friendly, chatty barstaff as well. A couple of guest beers on the bar with a third being pulled through. According to some of the locals I spoke to, it gets mad in here later on, but it was pleasant enough during my stay.

A small but pleasant enough Wethers without being great. A single rectangular room with some outside seating at the front and side. 3 banks of 4 handpumps on the bar with one bank dedicated to ciders. Quiet on this afternoon visit.