The Old Swan (JD Wetherspoon), Uttoxeter

Uttoxeter isn't exactly a destination town for beer and pubs so it's hardly surprising that this JDW is the only place listed in the 2017 GBG. It's a square room with a low ceiling and the bar on the left, above which is a skylight that at least during daylight lets some light in. The furnishings were a bit more varied than some of their outlets. The clientele was more refined than for example their Peckham outlet, in fact you could almost imagine Hyacinth Bucket feeling at home in here. Most people present on my early Tuesday afternoon visit were having meals. The bar has just eight hand pumps which had two available soon, the two GK beers, Backyard Hellbound and three festival beers. I went for the Backyard beer and the festival Shepherd Neame Hot Night At The Village both at £2.45 festival price and both in excellent nick. I thought this was a good Spoons.

A Wethers-by-numbers though a good selection of cask ales were on.

This fairly typical Wetherspoons should not be confused with the Black Swan that also stands on the Market Place. Part of the building was was originally the Independent Chapel and dates from 1792 but for the most part the building appears to be a mid-Victorian structure with various modernizations over the years, not least by Wetherspoons who acquired the site in 2006. The pub is more spacious than it appears from the outside although the interior is quite dark apart from the bar area that was once part of a small open air yard but is now enclosed under a glazed roof. The rest of pub quite dingy and a bit drab although not as brash and plastic as some I could name. The décor and furnishings do follow the general ’Spoons template of pub interiors with silent TVs, bookcases full of books of little use and display snippets of local interest. There is some additional seating in an upstairs balcony and also a small outside terrace for the smoking contingent. All the usual food and drink combos and offerings are present but not the greatest ‘Spoons selection when it comes to ales with just the 2 guest beers available on my visit although quality was as good as you would expect from the chain. This is very much a functional, if slightly above average ‘Spoons that meets the requirements expected without delivering too much to set it apart from others of its ilk.