The Half Moon (JD Wetherspoon), Stepney, E1

A 1998 opener in an old Welsh Methodist chapel, latterly a theatre. Odd place that's two entirely separate bars in the same building like a Frankenstein’s monster. First bar is small and plain with burgundy walls and an impressive domed skylight. Was dead here, presumably as the servery wasn’t inhabited. The rear bar is much nicer with a modern Scandi aesthetic, squared box walls and ceilings alongside a decent patio off right. Camp barman served up an excellent Nottingham Citra (NBSS 4) for just £1.49 with my Timbo Token. Genuinely impressive, I wasn’t expecting much given the location.

Large Wetherspoons with different areas and an outside space. Good beer

This is indeed an oddly shaped pub, even by Wetherspoon's standards. You enter into what is a standard ‘spoons conversion – this one from a theatre apparently – but the main pub area, and which contains the only bar providing any service, is to the back and the right. It’s almost as if two pubs have been bolted together somehow. There’s also a fair bit of outside seating, which seemed quite popular when I visited, although it’s still February. Furnishings are the usual ‘spoons mix. On the ale front, there were two of the usual suspects on, plus three guests, which is particularly good for a pub of this size. I too didn’t note the ale we had, but I do recall that it was a rich and flavoursome 5% strong ale, and cost Alan £2.99 for two halves, which is expensive by ‘spoons standards. This pub’s OK for what it is – a standard ‘spoons – and as long as you’re content with their style of pubs then this one will do nicely.

The Half Moon is a largish Spoons that is very handy if getting on or off a tube at Stepney Green. Once through the grand looking entrance there is a largish oblong shaped room with the bar facing,the seating in this area is normal tables and chairs,we stood at the bar,but nobody came to serve us,a local kindly told us this bar is not in use,the newer part of the pub is to the rear right,this room is similar in shape with the bar facing,this room also had mainly normal tables and chairs,it was also a lot bussier,probably because the bar was in action in this room. There was a decent choice of real ales on the bar,but i dont have the faintest idea which drink i had,but it was a nice drink to end my East End crawl on. I was happy enough drinking in this Spoons. Pub visited 19/2/2014