The Robert the Bruce (JD Wetherspoon), Dumfries

At last, a pub with some decent beer on sale. Large main room as you enter with bar at the rear. Many seats before the bar and an upstairs area which was full on my Friday night visit. A reasonable selection of ales, including Marston's Old Empire.

As mentioned below this is a grand old building with a high ceiling and an upstairs gallery. It was busy on my Thursday night visit with largely groups of younger folk. It did strike me that this place was very well run with tables being cleared and the staff coping with the rush when a large group turned up. Although there are twelve hand pumps everything was doubled up. The six beers were the Scottish version of the JDW Trio Of Doom, Sadler's Peaky Blinder and two festival ales. I went for the Brewster's Hop Quest (£2.25 festival price) which was in excellent condition. This is one of the better Spoons.

A detached and impressive corner JDW pub and eatery, a former Methodist chapel returned to sandstone after being in white render. It is in a mix of styles; with its neo-classic ionian columned entrance, Gothic lancet windows and an Jacobean balastrade, it has the usual Spoon patio area. Named after the Bruce due to the proximity of the site to where Bruce murdered Comyn at Greyfriars. The interior is on two levels. An open plan lower floor and a gallery above. As per usual Spoons, it is set out for dining, though there is a clear separate family dining area (including upstairs). The walls are generally red and white, with some wood panel and there is a black and white chessboard floor and white ceiling. The coupola on the roof is painted with images of the Bruce and worth a look. The walls have architectual styled drawings as well as other stuff on them. The food here was fine, as was the service - not only was it friendly when you got it, but i echo what ROBCAMRA says - you got it in the first place - there was enough staff to serve the quite busy usual Spoons clientele. The silent TVs were on and there was no music. Beer; tap stuff as usual, along with Abbots and Ruddles on handpull. Also, there was a decent Weltons Chocolate MILD and a slightly dying, but still nice enough Ayr Brewery's Rabbie's Porter. I noted Marston's Old Empire and Rev James as being on as well, but it wasnt easy to see the pumps! Definately one of the better Spoons experiences i have had - but most noted for the quantity and quality of the staff on this occasion.