The Linford Arms (JD Wetherspoon), Cannock

A smallish, twin gabled town house spoons with a mezzanine floor. Absolutely heaving on a Saturday afternoon - to the point where there was only one single seater table free. Thank the lord for the App. I could protect my space whilst someone ran up and down stairs with a decent Moorhouse Pendle Witch.

Strangely enough, this branch of Wetherspoon's was closed the last time I visited Cannock in April 2021. That was a time of outdoor drinking only and whilst the pub does have an outdoor drinking area, it is tiny, with only enough room for 1 or 2 tables. For a 'spoon's, this pub does have a fair amount of character with low beams and multiple drinking areas, including a mezzanine level where the toilets can inevitably found. The usual Wetherspoon's trio of Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar were on, with the 3 guests being Wychwood Hobgoblin Gold, Oakham Citra & Peerless Knee-Buckler IPA. There was no real cider that I could spot. Between us, we had the Citra and the Knee-Buckler. Both were very drinkable. We had just over 30 minutes between buses from the nearby bus station. But it was a pleasant enough short stay.

Decent spoons in the middle of town. Not the biggest choice of ales with Titanic porter, Abbot reserve and Grafton Caramel Stout alongside the usual trio. I went for the Grafton and it was in good shape. My only real gripe is that it needs a bit of TLC such as doors which don't lock in the toilets and broken toilet seats. Simple enough things to fix.

Traditional-looking pub, and although not used as such until recently it is undoubtedly a genuinely old building. It has been partly opened-out and given the 'spoons treatment, but still has some residual interest within. There are also small patio areas to the front and side. Modest selection of real ales from nine of ten handpumps, but the local Backyard Blonde was nice enough.