The Pear Tree (JD Wetherspoon), Birmingham

This is a low ceilinged rectangular room that is fairly uninspiring. It has fairly typical JDW furnishing and decor and at the rear some doors lead to what looked through the pouring rain like a patio. The bar has two sets of five hand pumps which had the JDW Trio Of Doom with Abbot and Doom Bore doubled up, Slater's Golden & Porter, Vale Gravitas, Beer Studio Sharp Motueka and Sadler's Peaky Blinder Gold. I went for the Sadler's beer (£2.19) which was in great nick. I thought the reasonable beer selection here made up for the uninspiring surrounds and the nicotine Guard Of Honour on the way in.

This is a modern, terraced Spoons outlet, flanked by two older buildings. It has a patio. The frontage is a little dull, being all glass and blue. It is named after the old Pear Tree pub, that occupied the site of the Goose. The smokers hanging out the front are a put-off, indeed, many of them seem to go into the pub for a drinks break between fags. Anyhow, the interior is not very inspiring - a long room, with the serving bar off to the right. The usual red, green and wood panel, with patterned carpet is there for decor. There are some book (you may need to blow the dust off) and the TVs were showing the horse racing and footy scores. There is a hearth fire feature and a few bits of arty art are on the walls (should be on the fire in my opinion). The service was fine and the usual Spoons mix of clientele were in. Beerwise, it had the usual taps, along with Abbot and Ruddles, as well as four or five handpulls. I wasn't expecting much, but by luck or not as the case may be, i had a really tasty Byatts Xmas Ale (even in mid-January!). I would return on the basis of the beer i tried - even if it is perhaps one of the less exciting Spoons.

This Wetherspoon outlet keeps improving with the beer quality. Had 2 well kept beers this week when we called. Weatheroak Victoria Works and Sadlers Elementus.