The Quay (JD Wetherspoon), Poole

Are Spoons losing their appeal ? The Poole Quay area has numerous pubs and this was not the busiest pub on the day of my visit. The building itself was of interest and the decor was tidy. Barman friendly and I was able to find a seat on the raised ground floor area with ease.

A rather poor Spoons by JDW's poor standards, one long extended room with formula furniture, a mere five handles with usual suspect beer with the exception of Titanic Mild, which surprise surprise was off despite the clip being proudly displayed, the beer I finally went for was served in the cheapest, flimsiest plastic cup imaginable. Crap.

The exterior of the Quay might suggest that it's a shop conversion but apparently it was originally a warehouse. I saw no evidence of a second floor so assume that on a rainy Tuesday in January it was closed. Inside it stretches back a long way with the bar towards the front on the right. There's fairly typical Spoons furniture with tall stuff around the bar and lower tables and chairs elsewhere. I noticed the food here was more expensive than most other of their outlets nationally. The bar had just five hand pumps with the JDW Trio Of Doom and Ringwood 49er & Boon Doggle, one of the poorest choice of beers I've ever seen in a JDW that isn't a Lloyds. I asked if they had Devil's Backbone and they didn't so had a 49er (£2.69) which was OK but if anything I would have preferred it slightly cooler. £2.69 is expensive for a JDW but 10p cheaper than the other outlets visited in the area. I thought it was a rubbish Spoons and a complete waste of time.

A fairly mundane Spoons from the outside but much more interesting within. Fairly narrow but quite deep, there’s a wood heavy interior and attendant touches, feeling like a converted grain store but I guess that’s probably contrived. Two rooms, one after the other and less characterful at the back. Apparently upstairs seating with decent harbourside views but I missed that. Five ales at the bar with three good guests. My Mordue Americana was almost perfect. Lots of offers on and the beers were dirt cheap even by Wetherspoons usual standards. I quite liked it here and would pop in again if in Poole. Given reviews below, perhaps there’s been a change for the better. Mind you I went in way outside of tourist time…

Official site of The Quay (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Former warehouse, featuring an elongated main bar with more seating upstairs around the mezzanine bar area. Patio seating area out front overlooking the waterfront. Five handpumps on in each bar, with a rather dull selection of Ruddles, Doom Bar, Abbot, Cumberland, Pedigree and Brakspear's Bitter (£2.55) being served.

Official site of The Quay (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk