The Thomas Burke (JD Wetherspoon), Leigh

first visit post-Covid and I found a surprisingly pubby atmosphere. I concur with Rob that this is a well above average Spoons with good service and good beer. The locals in the bar are friendly and this extends into a more relaxed dining area. Two dark beers on this visit, the Exmoor Beast was tempting but a bit strong for a Sunday afternoon so I went for the Titanic Black Ice. It’s probably the best in Leigh.

This is one of the better branches of Wetherspoons in terms of its real ale offering. Usually seems to have a decent varied offering of guest ales across the two banks of pumps. A permanent house ale 'Tommy Burke' by Brightside Brewing is pretty decent. Service has been friendly when I have visited. There are three distinct sections to the pub, the entrance lobby with standard tables and chairs to the right and high tables to the left and, unusually for a Spoons, a dartboard. Into the main bar area the servery dominates the left hand side, with a mix of high and standard tables and chairs in the middle, with a number of booths to the right. To the rear is a slightly raised area which seems to be popular with diners and also features a fire. Beyond this is a small-ish outdoor area (terrace, beer garden, you make your own mind up). Guest ales are currently £2.29 a pint and seem to rotate regularly. I have sampled the food a couple of times and I have no complaints. Unusually for the chain, the upstairs area is unused and the toilets are all on the ground floor. This is a theatre conversion so if you take the time to look around you can see some interesting features, and the usual local history is dotted around in frames on the walls. Seems to have a pleasant atmosphere and I quite like this one.

not a bad Theatre conversion spoons with some nice features; today it had Rudgate Ruby Mild and Valkyrie, a stout from Bank Top, Phoenix Arizona (very nice), Brightside Manchester Skyline and Moorhouses Blonde Witch as well as the usual suspects. Typical cafeteria/canteen atmosphere, especially in these current strange times. Quite a relaxed place in the afternoon with decent friendly service, in what is sadly now a very grim town.

A long, thin Wethers which wasn't too bad. As noted, its in 3 sections with the rear bit up a couple of steps (there is a ramp for disabled access). To the side and rear there is a beer yard. 10 handpumps but 6 are useless as the 3 nasties are doubled up. There didn't seem to be any indication of what the building was formerly dotted around that I could see. It was a decent enough place and cheap.

This appears to be set up in the ground floor of an old cinema or theatre which has the big advantage of the toilets not being up several flights of stairs. It has the usual layout for one of these conversions with a converted foyer at the front and then the main room with a low ceiling and the bar on the left. This leads to a rear area with a higher ceiling and a patio right at the back. I was here on a January Saturday after an overnight frost and was alarmed to watch a large young local bloke leaving the pub wearing shorts and a T shirt. The bar has two sets of hand pumps which had the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up, Coach House Blueberry & Blunderbuss, Ringwood 49er and Hawkshead Lakeland Gold. I went for the Blunderbuss (£2.19) which was in excellent condition. I thought this was a fairly decent Spoons.

Official site of The Thomas Burke (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Thomas Burke (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Standard issue 'spoons housed in quite an imposing building, comprising a small seating area by the front windows, the main space with the bar counter along one side and more of a dining area at the far end. Little of real interest from nine of ten handpumps, and my pint of the ex-festival Elgood's Lazy Dog (£2.45) was starting to fade. On the plus side, it does have plenty of interesting local history panels.

Called in early doors during the week to find the barstaff a bit thin on the ground.Sampled a pint of Coach House Brewing Co Ginger Nut (5.0 abv)which was certainly gingery,was ok for one but would not fancy a session on it.