The William Morris (JD Wetherspoon), Hammersmith, W6

Formerly branded as a Lloyd’s, this shop conversion opened on 17th December 1997, named after William Morris (no, not that one) who lived locally at Kelmscott House, 26 Upper Mall, W6 9TA, though it would simply have had a ‘W’ postcode during his lifetime. Well described below, the interior will be familiar to the habitual spooner though unsurprisingly Arts & Crafts-themed throughout (including nods to Edward Burne-Jones), with patterned carpet, wood panelling, glasswork and lamps; there’s a small, raised area to the rear (see photos). Customers were your typical single older bloke, then some mainly Asian tourists, thereafter many gawky, studenty types. There are 10 pumps dispensing the four usuals, then six guests with two from Thornbridge, including Jaipur, £3.39 a pint and good, served by a deferential barmaid. With less clutter and lower levels of Araldite to the tables, this is one of the better ‘spoons, less raucous than the Swan next door with a greater choice of cask; it’s better than anything else along edgy King Street and naturally superior to the awful Belushi’s but probably gets filled up by the post-gig brigade from Even Tim’s Apollo over the road.

Visited 02/03/26. Visited previously 02/08/23. Cask here in addition to regulars Doom Bar, Ruddles & Abbot, were the Junkyard Brit Hop Pale and the Citra both from Oakham, London Pride, the Navigator Pale Ale from Castle Rock, the Voyager Mild Ale from Woodforde's, the Good Tides Cornish Red Ale from St Austell and the Vale IPA called Pitch Perfect. Keg was Staro, Guinness, Carlsberg, Corona, Budweiser, Stella, Stowford Press, Angelo Poretti, Leffe Blonde, K1664, Punk IPA, Bud Light, Carling, Coors, Blue Moon, Worthington CF, Shipyard Pale Ale, the original and dark fruits SB, the Sumo APA from Mad Squirrel and the Seven Brothers Easy IPA. Old school JDW, large single story roughly L shaped venue with the bar counter providing service on three sides on a tiled skirt on the outside right angle of the L shape from the glass frontage. Otherwise, the venue is carpeted with the usual JDW seating configurations so plenty of regular tables and chairs, tall tables with tall stools, ledges around pillars and along bits of the perimeter served by tall stools, booths and banquettes. There are a few nooks and crannies to isolate in plus a raised area towards the far rear of the venue by the glass doors leading onto a patio area by the Lyric Theatre. All screens were switched off on my visit, the only sound that of the chatter of the countless patrons. A fair few fruit machines that are pretty distracting in a venue otherwise wood panelled with plenty of interesting, framed prints to read on the walls. Can't knock the beer quality or the prices - can't imagine I will enjoy a pint of cask beer more this evening on a revisit of the W6 area to review and photo venues largely ticked in Summer 2023.

Official site of The William Morris (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The William Morris (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com