The Benjamin Huntsman (JD Wetherspoon), Sheffield

A much better Wetherspoons then The Bankers Draft, went to a football match on a Friday evening while staying in Sheffield and went in here after getting off the tram, really busy has you'd expect on a Friday night full of students but a good atmosphere, one of several bars in this stretch of the city centre, inc. Yates & Lloyds No 1, both of which I visited after this one.

My first impression was that this was an above-average Spoons, with a calm atmosphere and 6 guest ales on (mainly from Bradfield and Stancill). However this was shattered by some indifferent service, some indifferent ale, and the accursed industrial ducting overhead being taken to absurd levels. The nail in the lid was an appalling set of children engaging in loud and robust play; I know that's not the pub's fault but they could have suggested a little decorum. Perhaps I was just unlucky.

Another day, another Wetherspoons pub crosses my path. This is a fairly mid-size, city centre branch of the ubiquitous chain – so ubiquitous in fact, that there is another ‘Spoons just over the road! This one has a fairly deep room that extends much further than you’d initially expect, carpeted throughout, with high tables and stools opposite the bar which runs down the right hand wall. Standard tables and chairs fill up much of the remaining space, whilst some decent banquettes skirt the perimeter, many formed into booths of various styles. A few somewhat chunky pillars run through the centre of the room, to break the space up quite effectively and avoid that ‘drinking-barn’ feel you can often get in such places. The walls have been painted a mix of neutral shades or else left as exposed brick or stone, whilst the servery has a wood plank fronted counter and standard bar back underneath a large display area which houses all sorts of items including glassware, barrels, a stepladder and what appear to be various bits of old industrial machinery. The decor throughout is relatively creative by ‘Spoons standards and includes a rather pleasing feature made from mirrors, various paintings and some framed knick-knacks – in fact, even the usual ‘Spoons local information boards had been creatively presented, giving this pub something to make it stand out from countless other city centre ‘Spoons across the UK. This pub has ten handpulls in total, four of which were pouring the usual dull selection of ‘Spoons regulars, but the remaining six were all in use for guest ales giving me plenty to choose from. Sadly, I visited during a work lunch break, so wasn’t able to sample any, opting for a mug of tea and a panini – all dished up in the usual quick, no frills fashion. I quite liked this place and thought as far as this sort of city centre, shop conversion goes, it was a pretty successful effort. The decor was just about as ‘quirky’ as Wetherspoons is ever likely to get, the staff were pleasant and efficient and the beer range looked pretty tempting. There are tonnes of better pubs in town, but for that familiar ‘Spoons feel, you can’t really go wrong here.

Unfortunately I turned up here on a Friday night when there was also some sort of fairground thingy going on North of here. It was packed and the upstairs bar even more so, I suppose if you're not drinking the larger selection of real ales at ground level it saves the journey up and down the stairs to visit the toilets. The staff were somehow or other coping well with the mayhem. The place has been well described below but the only beers I can confirm that were on were Elland 1872 Porter, three boring Milestone rugby themed beers and Flipside Golden Scorpion. by the time I left when things were easing off a bit all I could see was the 1872 and the boring rugby beers. I managed to bag a table and stayed for a couple of 1872 Porters (£2.75) which were excellent. I would concur that this is a decent well run Spoons.

Popped in here Saturday morning for a pre-match breakfast , very busy at 11am with a mixture of old dears having a pot of tea , students having breakfast , blokes having a crafty pint while the wifes shopping and the usual hardcore drinkers on a mission to oblivion . All 10 pulls were on , i had a Little Critters Shire Horse and a Bradfields Farmers Blue both in good nick . Its OK in here for a spoons and i would visit again .