The Chequers Inn (JD Wetherspoon), Stourbridge

The main part of the building is a proper pub, given the 'spoons treatment so substantially remodelled inside but still looking interesting from the street. The ground floor has been fully opened out to leave an island bar with additional seating / dining areas to one side and at the back in substantial modern extensions. Fairly modest selection of seven real ales from the two banks of five handpumps, but the local Enville Ginger (normally more expensive than the other ales, but part of the Curry Club deal) was in fine form. The same can't be said about the 'catalogue of errors' kitchen, but the duty manager sorted things out appropriately in the end...

This is a relatively new Spoons (May 2010) so is rather different to the "old school" shop conversions like the one over the road. There is a price to pay for this as the prices here are dearer than the Edward Rutland, Someone's got to pay for those chandeliers. However, it does tend to have a better atmosphere than some Spoons as the daytime brigade tend to congregate across the road. It didn't stop me coming here where I found a large high ceilinged room with an Island bar that was better designed than other ones I've come across as it was rectangular rather than square so there were just two serving areas not four. Each side had five pumps with London Pride and Purity Mad Goose doubled up, the two GK beers, Exmoor Gold, Adnam's Enraptured American Ale, Salopian Golden Thread and Byatt's Big Cat. I went for the Salopian Golden Thread (£2.35) which was in very good nick. It's not bad as Spoons go but having the Pride and Purity not doubled up would be an improvement.

The Chequers sign is not one of Wetherspoon's better efforts.