The John Russell Fox (JD Wetherspoon), Andover

Unexceptional Wetherspoon's in old newspaper offices. Low tables at the front, with a high tabled area near the bar, then a surprisingly large room to the rear mainly used by families and diners. There is one separated room to the side which offers some escape from the general melee. A reasonable selection of beers, including a couple of interesting local ones

Bland uninspiring and horrible place. Yes all the beers were on but refer to the first four words.

Well described below, I would just add that there is a rather unsightly lift used to raise wheelchairs and other stair-challenged items from the main bar area to the upper bar area at the back. I found the bar staff rather dull and apathetic, one female in particular who provided a temporary distraction as we watched a small drop of snot accumulate on her nose ring before plummeting to the bar, thankfully missing the beers; we didn't think she even noticed. The young chap waiting at the tables was much more energetic and hygienic. There was the usual collection of chav families with bleating babies, but otherwise it wasn't too bad, even by Andover standards. The beers on the 10 handpumps were TPA, Old Thumper, Razorback, Ascalon, Doombar, Ruddles, Abbott, Old Hookey and 2 ciders, so actually not a bad selection. A cliché, but a safe bet if pressed.

I assumed when arriving at this place that it was a shop conversion but apparently it was the offices for the local rag. As noted below it's a typical JDW with a wider area for food at the front then the bar area and another food area at the rear. It was doing a good trade on my Thursday early afternoon visit. The bar has ten hand pumps which had the JDW Trio Of Doom, GK IPA, Caledonian Edinburgh Castle, West Berks Dr Hexter's Healer, Maggs' Mild & Mr Chubb's Bitter, Flack Manor Cracker and White Horse Village Idiot. I went for the Dr Hexter's which I'm not sure was as good as it could be but was drinkable. I thought this was a fairly average JDW but at least there was no beers doubled up or available soon.

One of those larger-than-it-initially-looks 'spoons with several different seating areas as you go further back. Apart from the preserved Intertype machine near the front, there is little to say about the interior apart from the fact that the furniture and decor is relatively light and helps avoid too oppressively a feel as you move away from the windows. Reasonable selection from two banks of five handpumps, including a pair from Flack Manor (e.g. Flack Catcher, £2.49).