The Glass Works (Lloyds No 1), N1

A Wetherspoons atop a shopping centre. On approach I experienced similar to Steve C, as a tweenage Usian Bolt shot past with a security guard in fruitless pursuit. The place had a beautifully distilled Spoons clientèle - some chain smoking middle-aged men with world-weary faces, a few old codgers and a collection of loud gobby women and their loud gobby kids. For the ten minutes I was there the place was little more than a crèche. Internally there wasn’t much to note - the usual Lloyds fittings circa 2002. However on an up-note all the ales were on and my Adnams Old Ale was a good drop. I doubt I’d see the need to do this one again except for convenience.

I had trouble locating this place. I was on the first floor of a shopping centre that I thought was the right place so in desperation I asked two young women if they knew where the Glass Works was. To my astonishment they told me this IS the Glass Works! They were having a fag outside the place I was looking for. Having proved that I am a complete idiot I ventured inside. Given that it's a modern building with no redeeming features whatsover, it's a bit more comfy and roomy than the nearby Angel, but the beer selection was a disaster. There are six pumps, two of which had cider, one of which was Available Soon and one of which had gone off. That left just the boring Hobgoblin or Abbot. I went for the Abbot, the first time I had tried it for a long time. It was OK. If it had been a warm summer's day rather than in the midst of a snowstorm I may have given the cider a go. I very much doubt if I will make a return visit.

For a Wetherspoon's this is a pretty poor offering.Stuck in the middle of a shopping centre this place is pretty dismal.There was not much in the way of guest beers and the pub lacks any atmosphere and if you did not know that the pub was actually here you would miss it(this may not be such a bad thing!)I would like to suggest that you went to The Angel just around the corner but that would be a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire.Better off going to the Wenlock Arms 10 mins down City Rd.Where you will get a decent pint and before,if the rumours are right,it closes.

The prospect of visiting a Wetherspoons on the first floor of a shopping centre probably doesn’t fill many with excitement and I’m certainly not one. I visited on Saturday evening and access was gained up a stationary escalator and past a few security guards in high visibility vests that were standing around watching the yoof of N1 get up to their usual tricks. After passing another couple of official looking gentleman that were watching the door of the Glass Works I found myself in a run-of-the-mill open plan Spoons with all the usual promotional paraphernalia on the tables and walls. It was surprisingly quiet and I was served very quickly by a friendly girl working the bar who poured a decent, and cheap for the area, pint of Guinness. The usual Spoons draught range is present along with six hand pumps that were drawing a cider, Abbot and very surprisingly four Fullers ales. The demographic changes in here throughout the day as it is mainly used by shoppers during daylight hours and in the evening some dance music is played and the average age drops by twenty years. Thankfully the music isn’t that loud so one doesn’t have to shout to be heard. I suppose this place is in a handy location, but it is certainly not a destination pub.