The Blue Bell (JD Wetherspoon), Pontefract

You can't imagine that this 'spoons occupying a semi-detached building overlooking the main road junction is going to have much space inside, but looks deceive. Going back further than you might expect, there are several different seating / dining areas within the partially opened-out and extended interior, with generally semi-modern furniture throughout. Mostly artwork rather than information boards on the walls, but on closer inspection these are of local scenes (including the former colliery). Rather limited selection of real ales and ciders from the two banks of five handpumps, with several duplicated clips, but I went for the seasonal Rudgate Jerusalem (just £1.75).

This one is a former Scottish & Newcastle pub that is a relatively new Spoons dating from Autumn 2013. Inside there's a low ceiling at the front with the bar on the left. At the rear is a high ceilinged room with low seating. The furnishings are better than average. The beer here is remarkably cheap with a standard guest price of £1.75. Greene King IPA is £1.59. The food prices are more normal. Although there are ten hand pumps the beer choice was poor with one available soon, 3 ciders then GK IPA & Abbot and Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger all doubled. I went for the Bishops Finger (£1.75) which was in good nick but rather cold. I thought this one was badly let down by the poor beer choice.