The Joseph Bramah (Lloyds No1), Barnsley

The small frontage to this place conceals quite a large Spoons with a long narrow split-level room and an upstairs area that I didn't even notice. Fixtures and fittings are fairly typical. It's a Lloyds but the location of the Lloyds Disaster Area wasn't obvious. It may be in the middle where I thought there were some lights and speakers. The beer choice on the eight hand pumps in the downstairs bar wasn't that great with two available soon, Fuggle Bunny Cotton Tail & Russian Rare-Bit and the IPA JDW Trio Of Doom with Abbot doubled. I went for the Russian Rare-Bit which was in good nick. Like the Silkstone Inn they went to serve it in a stupid dimple jug but I was prepared this time and asked for a straight. Despite the average beer choice this isn't bad for a Lloyds. It's GBG 2017 listed.

The Joseph Bramah is a Wetherspoons pub. Once inside there is a very long oblong shaped room with the bar midway down on the left side,the seating is the usual mix of tall tables and chairs and normal tables and chairs,the rear area is up some steps and is wider,the seating here is all normal tables and chairs. I had a drink of Fuggle Bunny Jammy Dodger,which went down well,the other beers noted were Elland Black Gold,Milestone Deliverance and the Spoons regulars Doom Bar,GK IPA and Abbot. I thought this was a decent enough Wetherspoons to have a drink in.

This is a huge, sprawling Wetherspoons pub with a good central location. Upon entering, there doesn't seem to be much to the place, as a narrow front section with benches arranged into an unusual zig-zag pattern down one side and standard tables and chairs on the other, eventually leads you to the main bar area. Here we find the servery located in a recessed section to the left with a bland bar back and high table and stool seating opposite in what is ultimately a rather unremarkable area, save for several TV screens, all showing Final Score. A disabled ramp lined with bright art prints leads you up to a rear seating area with bare brick walls, standard tables and chairs, a single padded banquette and a whole load more TV screens. The room branches to the left here into a part carpeted, part bare boarded room with a lot more standard seating and a big screen which was out of action on this visit. There is also a door out to a rear patio area, which looked a bit walled in to me, although I didn't go outside for a proper look. Stairs lead up to the first floor, where a whole new, and surprisingly pleasant, part of the pub can be discovered. There is a bar in the rear right corner (with three handpulls), around which some limited seating has been provided, but this floor has two nice seating sections, both of which I found preferable to those downstairs. One area near the back of the pub has been furnished with comfy leather sofas and has dark wood panelled walls decorated with old black and white photos and a high skylit gabled roof with some fancy light fixtures hanging from it. Meanwhile, a second area off to the left has standard seating and an attractive fireplace on the end wall. The main bar has eight handpulls which were serving four 'Spoons regulars and four guest ales. I decided to try Partners Triple Hop, which the barman had all kinds of difficulty pouring, but the pint I ended up with was in pretty good shape and went down very nicely. I thought this pub did itself a bit of a disservice with the way it presents itself on entry, but I eventually warmed to it and found it to be quite a versatile venue. I suspect it can get a bit rowdy at times (being the Lloyds No1 brand), but it was all pretty respectable whilst I was there and I'd consider a revisit the next time I'm in town.

Very narrow frontage for a Lloyds No. 1, leading to an elongated split-level interior. All rather oppressive, but there is also a side seating area, an upstairs bar (not visited) and some patio seating for those seeking a bit of natural light. Eight handpumps in the main bar (and probably more at first-floor level), and nothing wrong with my pint of Scary Monsters Black IPA (£2.15).

Long, thin and dark downstairs, quite oppressive more so I expect when busy. The floor slopes upwards away from the Market Hill entrance with the long counter to the left. A usual four plus four line up of pulls with the standard keg founts between. Usual 'spoons furnishing, perhaps a little chunkier and darker than usual, walls are exposed brick and some panelling into the short T section.There's also a fair number of silent screens. A staircase leads upstairs to a more elegant room with panelling and a second counter in the corner hosting another three pulls with a slightly different choice to downstairs. Not a bad 'spoons and one of two of their outlets listed in the 2013 GBG in Barnsley.