The Great Western (JD Wetherspoon), Cardiff

Substantial and decent-looking former railway hotel, unfortunately transformed into a rather dull Lloyds No 1 Bar. Various seating / dining areas - none with any residual character - arranged over two floors (although the upper part is a bit more inviting if you ascend whatever the square version of a spiral staircase is called, and there is also a compact enclosed terrace). Fairly quiet early on a Friday lunchtime, so served quickly, but an annoying number of uncleared tables were subsequently observed. Six of seven handpumps in operation downstairs (with further duplicated pumps at first-floor level), offering Ruddles, Doom Bar, Abbot, Brain's SA Gold, Boss Brave from Boss Brewing and Thunderbird from Glamorgan Brewing (£2.59).

This is clearly a former Victorian Railway Hotel that according to the JDW web site was a pub with the same name when they took it over in 2004. I didn't look upstairs, in fact I doubt that it was even open on my morning visit. Downstairs consists of a series of connecting areas with a mix of carpeted and wooden floors. The downstairs bar only has six hand pumps which is pretty poor but it is a Lloyds. These had the two GK beers, Adnam's Broadside, Doom Bore, Kite Thunderbird and Rhymney Export. I went for the Rhymney Export (£2.35) which was in very good nick. Not one of the best Spoons but it is an interesting old building and was OK early on a Tuesday morning.