The Ash Tree (JD Wetherspoon), Ashton Central, Ashton-Under-Lyne

The Ash Tree is a Wetherspoons with steps up to the front entrance. Booths runs along the right wall faced by high table to the left and then the bar counter runs along the mid-right wall facing more high tables. These tables overlook seating below in the street level left hand side of the pub. The rear opens up where open plan seating is found. The bar supports standard and premium keg and there are two banks of five hand pumps. These were drawing GK Abbot Ale, Sharp’s Doom Bar, Wychwood’s Hobgoblin, Phoenix Brewery’s Spotland Gold and Wobbly Bob, Coach House Brewing’s Blueberry Classic Bitter and Cheshire Gold, Wainwright, Ruddles and Moorhouse’s Blonde Witch. It was quiet. So quiet I heard a manager moaning to the barman about not being able to close at 9pm on a weekday. If Tim hears him saying that he’ll have the pub open until 1am!

This is a long split level room that runs between two streets. I entered from the lower entrance and the bar is up a few steps on the right. There is low seating at the lower end and at the rear. Other than that it's all fairly typical. The bar has two sets of five hand pumps which had three available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom, Dorset Flashman's Clout, Ringwood Circadian and Marston's Pedigree. I opted for a festival cider which was offered to me with a hopelessly short measure. I asked for it to be topped up to which the barmaid told me it was a proper measure. I asked her if it was an oversized glass and it obviously wasn't as she put more in although it was still slightly short (the cider was completely flat). This one is GBG 2017 listed but the beer choice was unexceptional and the short measure issue means it gets marked down.