The John Jacques (JD Wetherspoon), Fratton, Portsmouth

The John Jaques is an open plan spoons with a bar that supports ten hand pumps. The usual cheap Spoons food and meal deals are available. I found the service to be very friendly and on point. I was surprised to see a dartboard, I think this is a first in a JDW for me.

While not the greatest of Wetherspoon's, still a reasonable pub especially for the area. Generally a bright, modern feel although a low ceiling and lots of square edges do not help the atmosphere. Reasonable beer range including local guests and usual 'Spoon's facilities, although unusually including darts. Has a side outdoor area off the pavement.

This is a shop conversion that consists of a single open plan square room. I turned up here on an early Saturday evening to find it in a completely shambolic state. Two television screens were blasting out football at a ridiculous volume despite there only being a minority of those present watching. I went up to the bar to find that four of the ten beers had gone off and nobody seemed to be doing anything about it. Needless to say this "family friendly" pub was devoid of any families. The beers available were the JDW Trio Of Doom, Spitfire, Welton's Headless Horseman and Flack Manor TPA. I went for the Headless Horseman which was in good nick and is the only thing that saves this dump from the Score Of Shame. Astonishingly it appears in the 2017 GBG.

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

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

Standard 'spoons, albeit with a partially opened-out interior that effectively breaks up the space a bit. Two banks of five handpumps on the counter; mostly usual suspects, but a few interesting beers such as Itchen Valley Russian Winter (£2.40).