The New Cross Turnpike (JD Wetherspoon), Welling

This reasonably large Wetherspoons pub on the main drag through Welling was previously a Natwest Bank - something not entirely apparent from its present layout, which sees an unusual three tier, split level set-up. You enter into the large ground floor area with a curved servery over to the rear left. A mix of quarry stone, carpet and mosaic tile flooring helps create areas which feel a little different from one another, as opposed to the usual uniformity of Wetherspoons design and décor. There is loads of standard seating, including on a raised, bare boarded area to the left which also boasts bookshelves and a TV screen showing rolling news coverage. A front mezzanine area looks down over the main bar and seating area, whilst stairs at the rear of the room lead up to two further seating areas. The first of these is relatively small, with a drinking ledge and high stools overlooking the main bar area, a long banquette serving two tables, exposed brickwork and a few modern art prints on show. The top level meanwhile has standard tables and chairs plus a couple of booths, a rather bland colour scheme and some floral wallpaper. Access to a rear outdoor seating area can surprisingly be gained from up here. Although the pub doesn't have the opulence of the city centre 'Spoons bank conversions, I did still feel that the place looked a lot classier that your average suburban Wetherspoons branch and enjoyed a relatively relaxing pint in comfortable surrounds. The bar supports twelve handpulls which were dispensing five 'Spoons regular ales and five guests, leaving two pumps unclipped. Having literally just read about their beer in the London Drinker magazine, I was pleased to find Bexley Brewery's 'Redhouse' on one of the pumps and enjoyed a well kept pint of it. The pub is apparently one of the best places to catch this relatively new brewery's beers. I was pleasantly surprised by this visit and could quite happily have stayed here for a couple more. It was starting to get a little hectic on my Saturday evening visit, so can imagine there are good and bad times to visit, but I left with a favourable impression and thought it was a good contrast to the nearby Door Hinge micropub.