Victors, Sunderland

I have been in before when it was a Wetherspoons, and subsequently when it changed ownership. However I recently paid a visit which was the first since its change of name, and apparently has also had a refurb. The basic layout is pretty much the same though. Four hand pulls for cask ale at the bar, at the time of my visit last month one of these was unclipped, another was clipped but turned round, leaving Double Maxim and Sonnet 43 Abolition. The Abolition was £1.25 for a half, so very reasonable. Being January, they did a half price food deal if you sign up for a loyalty card, meaning I got a steak at a bargain price that was too good to pass up. Friendly service. There are better real ale pubs nearby but I'm glad to have visited.

Official site of Victors - www.victorsbar.co.uk

Official site of Victors - www.victorsbar.co.uk

This is a rambling Spoons set in the ground floor of a modern building. Unusually, especially as it isn't a Lloyds it has BT & Sky Sports but luckily nothing was going on when I was here. I came here on an evening when it was still light but overcast and the interior lighting was terrible, it really was unacceptably gloomy. I don't suppose they'll do anything about it as this is one of the new ones on the third list of closures announced in May 2016. The bar has three sets of three hand pumps which after a lot of effort in the darkness I discovered had two available soon, the JDW Trio of Doom, Big Lamp Lamplight & Keelman Brown, Sonnet 43 Impressment APA and Ringwood Fortyniner. I went for the Impressment APA which was excellent value at £1.99 and in good nick. The poor lighting and the Sport channels let this one down for me.

This is a large, modern Wetherspoons bar in the heart of the city, looking very much like one of their Lloyd's bars, although I saw no signage to this effect. You enter into a vast carpeted main room with floor to ceiling windows along two sides doing their best to brighten a surprisingly dingy interior. Rows of high tables and stools run through the centre of the room with some nice curved banquette booths backing onto the raised family seating area behind. This upper space also offers a selection of compact booths, each with a mirror inside, as well as some standard seating options. The servery runs along the rear wall and has a large and rather unexpected sculpture of the eponymous worm opposite. I was unfamiliar with the Lambton Worm, but the usual 'Spoons info boards are there to explain that it is a part of local folklore, forming a story/song about a local lad who skipped church to fish in the Wear, where he caught a worm which then wrecked havoc on the local community. A final run of seating can be found down a passage that runs past the right hand end of the bar and it is back here that you can read the full 'Song of Lambton Worm'. TV screens were showing a live non-league football fixture which no-one seemed to be watching and there were a few modern art prints on the walls as well as a set of bookshelves in a rear corner. I counted eight handpulls which offered three 'Spoons regulars and three guests, with a cider also available and a final pump left unused. I tried an international brew called Stone Amber Ale, which was very nice and served to me by a very friendly and helpful barman. I hoped this place might be a bit more interesting than the average Wetherspoons, but I found it fairly non-descript and were it not for the worm statue I suspect I'd have trouble distinguishing it from other modern 'Spoons of this type. I thought the beer quality and service were the plus points here, but Sunderland is blessed with many far more interesting pubs that deserve your attention ahead of this generic experience.

Housed in a modern building, and featuring a large, open bar with windows on both sides so quite light inside. Usual furniture and decor, except for the unusual metal sculpture of the eponymous invertebrate. Two areas set aside for those dining plus some patio seating out front. Six beers available from nine handpumps, with a pint of Sonnet 43 Bourbon Milk Stout coming in at just £1.89. Also had the manager's bargain chicken korma with rice at a bargain £2.99. All in all, a remarkably cheap place to stop by for a decent pint and a quick bite of lunch.