The Old Fire Station, Ashton Central, Ashton-Under-Lyne

The Old Fire Station is a large open plan pub with a few small raised seating areas. Televisions are located throughout for showing live football and on the right wall are two dartboards. The L-shaped bar counter in the right rear corner supports standard and premium keg and I counted three hand pumps. One was off which left JW Lees Plum Pudding and Robinson’s Dizzy Blonde as the cask options. Typical large high street boozer not worth going out of the way for.

Large pub with an entrance front and rear. As noted it is very Wethers wannabe and as noted, not as good. Of the 6 handpumps 3 weren't on, 2 had clips turned around and only 1 was on dispensing Courage bitter.

Very large JDW alike, but nowhere near as good as the nearby Ash Tree the real JDW. The clientele in here were definitely at the lower end of the social spectrum compared to The Ash Tree. It's a large square box with a raised area to the left. Music was being played, but only in one section of the pub. Whether or not that is by design or the sound system doesn't work properly is anyone's guess. 6 handpumps on the bar, only 2 beers on, Sharps Doom Bar and Shepherd Neame Whitstable Bay. Only one young lad behind the bar and several waiting to be served. He was trying his best, but couldn't cope on his own, as you would expect on a Friday evening. I eventually got a pint of the Whitstable which was pretty average, and that's being kind. I went to play on the quiz machine and won back the price of my pint which improved my mood somewhat. It's a poor imitation of a JDW, go to the Ash Tree, it's much classier!!

Large pub in the centre of Ashton that is very Wetherspoons like both on the outside and inside.There was 4 cask beers on ranging from £1-99p to £2-49p and was quite surprised there was only a few customers in.

Called in here on the 20th of Feb waited to get served and waited not very busy the girl behind the bar was talking to some lads she came to me eventually. I Ordered a pint of cask beer she pulled but she did not know the price of it. Then she told me i would have to wait until another member of staff came back and took my pint away i asked when would that be after shes had a fag i walked out. WILL NOT GO BACK