The William Stead (JD Wetherspoon), Darlington

This is no longer a Lloyds since the Spoons web site lists it as a standard JDW. It's a rather pleasant old red brick building that the barmaid thought was originally a furniture shop. It's a much more likeable venue than the other Spoons in town but is let down by a poor selection of beers. I didn't look at the upper bar but the lower one had ten hand pumps with five beers doubled up. These were Greene King IPA& Abbot, Doom Bore, Bateman's XXXB and Adnam's Sixpoint Make it Rain. I went for the Make It Rain (£1.99) which was in very good condition. It seems a shame that the beer selection lets this place down.