The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon), Market Drayton

Converted cinema dating from 1927, with an odd, slightly raised, wood panelled and semi-enclosed lounge area to break up what would otherwise be a cavernous main space. Not much natural light inside, even in the front lobby, but there is a patio seating area at the front. Two banks of five handpumps, with a duplicated selection of Ruddles, Doom Bar, Abbot, Old Speckled Hen and Slater's Haka (£2.10).

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

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

A fairly generic Wethers and in keeping with the disappointing real ales available in the town, this also has a poor selection. It is, however, cheap. The interior is described elsewhere and seeing its next to the bus station its worth a visit.

This was the town cinema although it had other guises before JDW got it. It is recognisable as a cinema with a foyer entrance, a high ceiling and the bar on the right. There is a raised area to the left and some huge red lamp shades and the fact that the toilets are at ground floor level is a plus. There are two sets of five hand pumps one of which had two unused and was advertising three festival ciders. The other set had the JDW Trio Of Doom, Slater's Special and Lymestone Stone The Crows. The standard guest price here was £2.05 but the Lymestone beer was only £1.49. I went for a festival cider (£2.39) which was the joint lowest festival price I'd seen. I thought this was a reasonable Spoons but it was let down by a poor beer choice.

As Alan points out this is a large one roomed JDW pub with plenty of space and very high ceilings.Called in on a Tuesday lunchtime before my bus was due and was a little disappointed at the very poor range of cask beers on the bar.