The Dominie Cross (JD Wetherspoon), Retford

The Dominie Cross is a Wetherspoons with a serving counter up the right-hand wall that faces rows of high tables in the centre of the pub and raised seating on the left-hand wall where a faux exposed brick fireplace sits houses a coal effect gas burner. More pretence is found either side of this ‘chimney’ where dartboards sit on the wall with tables on non-existent oches and chalkboards missing, and they didn’t look the right height off the floor to me. Towards the rear is open plan seating and out the back is a paved beer garden. On my way back to the bar from the rear, I noted a large projector screen towering above that was airing muted horse racing. The two banks of five hand pumps were drawing the usual three plus Nethergate’s Old Growler, Hobgoblin Ruby, Bateman’s XXXB and Dorset Brewing Company’s Jurassic, the latter being past its best. Not the best, and not the worst JDW I’ve visited.

A mid sized spoons handy for the bus station, housed in a modern building it goes back a fair way. Usual set up of counter to one side, taller chairs nearby and lower ones at each end. The standard five plus five pulls topped and tailed by T-bars. All the unexciting usuals plus a cider, one from Sambrookes and Old Hooky. There is a raised area to the left with seating and a pair of dart boards. The usual local interest boards seem to have largely been replaced by old master type paintings and a few old B&W photos of the locale, the only other decor of note are large heraldic leaf like sculptures on some upper walls. There is a rear outside seating area and back entrance. Toilets at the back on the ground floor.

Routine 'spoons that is hard to spot from a distance because of the small cantilever sign and an absence of pavement tables. However, it does have a reasonable patio beer garden at the back, with some tables under cover. Very modest selection of just Ruddles, Doom Bar, Abbot and Old Hooky (£2.15).