The Nightjar (JD Wetherspoon), Ferndown

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

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

Situated in a fairly uninspiring - but presumably relatively prosperous, given the number of estate agents - shopping area, this 'spoons doesn't look much from the street. However, the converted supermarket interior is lighter inside than expected and benefits from a reasonably high ceiling. Also has a good number of display panels, historical B&W photographs and local interest pictures. Mix of furniture inside plus a collection of wooden picnic benches out front. Surprisingly good selection of keenly-priced real ales from the two banks of six handpumps, e.g. Robinson's Red & Black Trooper (£1.99).

The Nightjar is a JDW set in a modern shop building with a branch of Wilko as its neighbour. It's not that large a Spoons consisting of a plain square room with the bar on the right and a raised area on the left. At midday on a Thursday most of the punters were older folk or shoppers. There is no upper area or basement so the toilets are at ground level which is a plus point. For a smaller Spoons twelve hand pumps is a lot but there was only the GK IPA doubled up then a cider, Abbot and eight festival beers. I went for the Arundel Coffee Milk Stout (£2.59) which was in excellent nick but on the higher price side for a JDW. Overall I thought this was a pretty good Spoons.