The Old Gaolhouse (JD Wetherspoon), Winchester

Large Wetherspoon's with a single front bar and a raised separate drinking area.There was a very good selection of guest beers with most of them being from local breweries and all those tried were very good.Service was a bit slow but then it was a busy lunchtime.10 mins stroll from the railway station.

Much like most Wetherspoons, but larger than most versions.

A big rambling 'spoons. Staff here seemed much more on the ball than in other JDWs, friendly and talkative rather than just grunting the price at you. Good range of beers which were also pretty well kept. Mainly middle aged men in (a Monday night) plus a few younger couples. No uncleared detrius on the tables, again very unlike spoons. All round a worthwhile place for a pint or two.

Winchester has a hill at one end .Its murder pushing a heavily laden wheelchair up this hill, but I did it to bring you this review ( and one on O'Neills). Access is easy from the pavement and the bar is all on one level. The low ceilings give it a cosey air.Customers in my vicinity were definitely not the type JDWs are always accused of harbouring. One group knew a lot about breeding racehorses and Irish whiskey. Another talked of the logistics of a move to the Algarve in the near future. Yes I have ears like radar scanners but back to the pub. No waiting at the bar, served promptly and the bar staff hot on IDs, not that I was asked for my pension book.After the climb I rewarded myself with a a couple of pints of very good ale with whiskey chasers which JDWs had on offer. It is a good example of a Wetherspoons but you need a motorised wheelchair to climb that hill. I will not risk a heart attack again.