The Imperial (JD Wetherspoon), Walsall

Very imposing building, but not one of 'spoons best theatre conversions as the area nearest the door is very dark, and then you get a rather sudden drop down at the bar end. Otherwise it is much the usual offering, with cheap food and a reasonable selection of real ale with five guest beers in addition to the usual suspects from the eight handpumps. My pint of Elgoods Black Dog was fine and didn't cost any more than Ruddles with the 'curry night' deal so I was happy enough.

We have been here before but left due to lack of ale choice, but managed to find 5 guests on this time as the Walsall beer festival was on round the corner, so plenty of real ale drinkers were in town. I enjoyed Orkney Red Macgregor and Titanic Iron Curtain. What really impressed me here was that the Lees beer I wanted went off, and they whipped the pumpclip straight off. The beer on the next pump as available soon was put on. They were clearing the done line and getting the next beer ready so they could keep 5 guests on. What a refreshing change.

A fantastic, mainly brick exterior, to what was of course the Imperial Theatre. There is a beer/dining patio at the back. The interior is open plan and sympathetic to the history of the building. On three levels, you can walk up to a dining gallery from the main dining area, or down to the bar. The decor is in green, white and a clay colour, with wood panel. The place is quite ornate. There are TVs and information on the history of Walsall and some of its people, like Sister Dora. The service is typical Spoons - not enough people and the clientele the usual mix of penshioners after a cheaper meal, down to the complete drunk. Beer; usual tap stuff with Banks's MILD and Bitter. Pedigree, Abbot and Ruddles are on handpull, with four or five changing guests, the quality of which is up and down. Go in early for some functional food, get out early for better beer. The building is nice, the people let it down

Official page of The Imperial - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Official page of The Imperial - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Wetherspoons on two levels,Not a very good range of guest beers and all in all not a very good pub. Very noisy