The Crown Inn (JD Wetherspoon), Knaresborough

This one is an original pub but the entrance on the corner is quite clearly an adjacent building rather than the original pub. It's been well described below and is a square room with a lower area at the front and the bar at the rear right. Furnishings are a bit better than average and there is a patio. It was doing a good trade on my Saturday midday visit. It seems that 12 hand pumps is more than needed here as there were three unused, Abbot and six festival ales with two duplicated. I went for the Maxim Azacca (£2.15 festival price) which was in good nick. The beer choice was enhanced by the absence of Doom Bore and Ruddles. I found this one to be OK.

This is a large Wetherspoons pub on the main road through Knaresborough, set in an existing pub and sporting a bit of an upmarket look for a 'Spoons - presumably the result of the recent conversion which saw the place undergo a brand new refit. A large carpeted room has been broken up by numerous pillars and short sections of wall, creating a few distinctive areas and obscuring sight lines to such a degree that it isn't immediately apparent where the bar is upon entering. Armchairs and standard seating options can be found around the entrance area and down the right hand side which has a bit of a lounge feel to it, enhanced by some attractive floral displays. The bar is in the middle of the rear wall, behind a maze of high tables and stools that can make it a bit awkward trying to pick your way through the crowds at busier periods. There is a large skylight above which is most welcome given the small windows and various walls blocking other natural light sources, whilst an open kitchen can be seen at the front of this space. To the rear right there is a slightly lower seating space with standard tables and chairs, interesting local history items on display and plenty more fresh flowers. The front left side has bare stonework walls and some particularly nice booths, each with bright stained glass partitioning screens that match the glass in the canopy over the servery. The booths run past the left hand end of the bar, towards a small, cosy room a little further back with more comfortable seating options. There is also a small outdoor patio area, which I didn't get round to exploring on this occasion. The ale range was a little disappointing, with four 'Spoons regulars and just two guest ales ready, despite an alarming number of guest ale clips with a 'Coming Soon' sticker on them. To be fair, it does appear that at least two of these did appear son, as JAQPTIO lists two more guest ales being available, and he visited a couple of hours after I was there. I tried a pint of Moorhouse Witch Hunt but found it lacking ideal conditioning and struggled through it. I felt this was a bit of a mixed bag, as I liked the clean and comfortable surroundings, but found the layout a bit chaotic and impractical. The staff seemed friendly and efficient but the beer wasn't kept so well. If I was back in Knaresborough again, I would likely give this place a miss as there are much better options around town, but it's probably worth an occasional look in to see what's on the pumps and will obviously appeal to those looking for the usual cheap food and drink.