The Lynd Cross (JD Wetherspoon), Horsham

This is a very basic feeling branch of the Wetherspoons chain in the pedestrianised centre of Horsham. The pub occupies a decent sized building which, despite being set out in an open-plan layout, has a few notional separate areas thanks to the positioning of pillars, bits of partitioning wall and the servery. The right-hand side of the pub is carpeted and has mostly high tables and stools laid out across the room, many now sat between some pretty shaky looking screens added post-Covid to ensure distancing of a sort. The bar runs along the rear of the room with the usual ‘Spoons dark wood counter and mirrored bar back and has plenty more high table and stool seating opposite, as well as a screened off area to the front which seemed very characterless but offered some marginally comfier seating options. The room meanders round to the left, where a second large seating area emerges, mainly filled with basic tables and chairs and decorated with ‘Spoons information boards and old photos of the sort you find in most branches. Unlike a number of Wetherspoons I’ve been to, they seemed pretty hot on the whole track and trace thing here, with the barmaid sending me back to the entrance to pick up a contact tracing form which I’d failed to spot on my way in. I don’t think the pub has a beer garden from what I could see, but the pedestrianised street out the front lends itself to a spacious outdoor drinking area where a good amount of decent looking garden furniture has been laid out. Two banks of hand pumps promised a wide range of cask ales, but I found a lot of double-clipping which restricted the choice to Three ‘Spoons regulars and four guest ales. One barman saw me eyeing the handpulls and said I need not consult the range, as the Mauldon’s Black Adder was head and shoulders above everything else they had on, so I took his advice and enjoyed a very nice pint of this moreish stout. This pub will hold no surprises to even the most infrequent Wetherspoons customer – it is a by-the-numbers ‘Spoons with very little in the way of distinguishing features or character. That doesn’t entirely make it a bad pub and the vigilant and helpful staff, comfortable furnishing and well kept beer certainly count for something, but it nevertheless was the weakest of the seven pubs visited on my recent trip to Horsham and the one I’d be most likely to drop from the list the next time I’m in town.

The Lynd Cross is a Wetherspoons pub that faces an awful sculpture that is meant to represent the emergence of life. I think it looks more like a jacket potato. For those that would like an extended look at this monstrosity there are a few café tables outside this pub. The interior consists of a bar along the rear wall that faces an open plan seating area. The usual spoons food and drink deals can be found in this pub that has the ambience of an airport bar. This pub is representative of the Wetherspoons chain 10-15 years ago when they were all a bit crap. I’ll not be returning anytime soon.

This is an uninspiring shop conversion consisting of one large room with the usual Spoons furnishings. However, on my two visits there was a decent choice of local beers. GK Abbot, Ruddles and London Pride were doubled up and there was also Broadside and Hambleton's Nightmare. The four local beers were Kingbeer's Horsham Best, Westerham Bulldog, Arundel Stronghold and Firebird Brewing Paleface APA. On my return visit to get something to eat Kissingate Extreme Stout and Long Man Long Blonde had replaced two of these. On my first visit I tried the Paleeface APA (£2.70) which was pretty poor. In contrast the Extreme Stout (also £2.70) on my return was excellent. The cod and chips was exactly as expected, cheap and cheerful with nothing to complain about. I should really have sent the APA back, but was short of time in the morning. It's a bit pricey compared to a lot of London Suburb Spoons, but still significantly cheaper than the opposition.