The Lord Wimborne (JD Wetherspoon), Poole

A library conversion is a new one for me so it's a shame that the interior here is nothing more than a typical JDW barn. It wasn't that busy on my January Tuesday evening visit. The bar has ten hand pumps but the beer choice was poor with two available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up, Jenning's Clean Slate and Brewster's Decadence. I went for the Decadence (£2.79) which was excellent. It was nice to see no Ringworm beers for a change. It's not a great JDW and like the others in the area not cheap for their outlets. I can't imagine returning here.

Large Spoons housed in a lovely old Victorian building (was a library). Internally the pub hasn’t been particularly well-converted and is a generic Wetherspoon spread over two rooms. The far room is the best with booth seating, large windows and a mock library section. Elsewhere it’s the usual JDW tale of dim lighting and generic décor. A fair selection of guests ales here, though my Hawkshead Red had a distinct metallic twang to it. At 10am there were already some funsters getting onto shots, which caused consternation amongst one or two of the staff. If you’re going to do a Spoons in Poole, make it the other one (the Quay).

This pub has a historic entrance on one side and a lovely garden on the other. Unfortunatally, I could not find out if the inside of this former library was "gutted" by Wetherspoons or not. The atmosphere is horrible: it looks like a discount restaurant to me. Although the ales are very well-kept you will not be able to enjoy your pint as rude staff will ask you every five minutes if you are waiting for food. Low-quality food in particular and discount prices in general seem to contribute to the shutting of lovely traditional pubs. To be fair though, I have to say that they give the less well-off customers an opportunity to drink a affordable pint.

Imposing former public library (as can be seen by the plaque on the front corner) housing a distinctly dull 'spoons. Typically, anonymous furniture and decor, with the only feature of interest being a large tiled Poole Pottery map on one wall. Rear patio beer garden, partially covered. Fair selection from ten handpumps, including Wychwood Piledriver (£2.55).

A former library, this impressive Victorian public building is going through a bad chapter, hosting one of the dimmest, dreariest 'Spoons in the South. It's not just the pub that's dim – this branch also seems to employ some of the least sparkling bar staff around. The single large bar is poorly lit and feels grubby, an impression reinforced by the time it takes for the staff to clean the tables after people have finished eating. Dark wood and dreary carpets do not help the overall impression. There were 9 ales on, and there were a dozen or so ciders behind the bar. I had a pint of Vale Brewery's VPA which was much too cold and lacked flavour. Not the best JDW and certainly not the best pub in Poole.