The John Logie Baird (JD Wetherspoon), Hastings

This is a relatively small High Street branch of the Wetherspoons chain, handily located for the seafront and station. The pub comprises a very basic, single rectangular room laid out across a couple of levels. You enter into the main seating area, with the usual 'Spoons carpeting, loads of tables and chairs in the front section under large windows, and the servery down the right-hand wall with a few high tables and stools opposite. The bar has a very basic tongue and groove panelled counter with a polished stone top and a mirrored bar back of the sort that you can find in countless other 'Spoons up and down the country. To the left is a pleasant, raised seating area with tongue and groove panels screening it from the main bar area. It's full of tables and chairs and has a simple fireplace on the end wall which acts as a focal point of sorts. Further back, a small seating area hidden behind a structural support post can be found to the left and some steps lead down to a compact, lower-level space with a few more seats at the rear. The walls are painted in a neutral, two-tone colour scheme and have been decorated with the usual local history boards and a few bits of modern art. The ale ratio here was pretty good, with the three regulars supplemented by seven guests, mostly Christmas themed beers. I avoided these and tried the Goffs White Knight instead, which was in good shape. Sadly, the staff did the bare minimum in terms of friendliness and struggled to keep tables clear during the peak Saturday lunch period in which I visited. It was admittedly a packed house, and I found it very hard to find a free table. I think the wider ale range, seemingly maintained in good order, was the high point of this visit, as I found the pub itself to be pretty unremarkable and the service to be rather off-putting. I might’ve benefitted from attending at a slightly less busy time, as it wasn’t ideal having to deal with such a packed pub, but whilst it’s a reliable option, I can’t say I’d be inclined to visit again given the town’s many superior pubs. Date of visit - 21st December 2024

Large Spoon's, fairly low-ceilinged but otherwise a bright uncluttered décor with a slight 1920s feel. Particularly well patronised by pensioners, even for a Spoon's. There is a Covered patio area to the front, handy if you are waiting for a bus, with a smaller patio at the back mainly used by smokers. Visited during a 'Dark side of the Pump' mini-festival so an impressive range of beers on, albeit at the expense of any real cider. Brewers represented included Westerham, Arundel, Roosters, and Exe Valley, alongside the usual Ruddles, Abbot and Doom Bar and condition was good.

This is very much a standard Spoons dating from 2001. Apparently the bloke who invented television had connections with the town. I bet he didn't expect to find a place like this 90 years later showing subtitled news on flat screens. It's one big square room with a low ceiling and a long bar along the right. It's rather dark inside and there is an assortment of tables and chairs. The beer selection compensated for the dreary interior with two banks of five hand pumps. There was something of a Locale festival on and the beers were Westerham Finchcock's Original, Grasshopper & Puddledock Porter, Arundel Black Beastie & Black Stallion, Long Man Copper Hop, Long Blond & American Pale Ale, Dark Star Hophead and London Pride. I went for the Long Man APA which was in excellent condition. This more than made up for the dull disposition of the place.