The Denmead Queen (JD Wetherspoon), Waterlooville

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

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

Ordinary 'spoons in Waterlooville's even more ordinary shopping precinct, with this and The Heroes next door being the only features of interest in this dismal suburb (which has the air of one of those isolated northern towns where the last coal mine closed 30 years ago). The furniture and decor is relatively light to offset the lack of natural illumination, and there is a small terrace at the back. OK selection of four festival real ales (including the local-ish Arundel Brewhouse Best, £1.99) and a pair of ciders to supplement the Doom Bar and Abbot from the two banks of five handpumps.

This is a fairly typical shop conversion consisting of a long, low-ceilinged room with a narrower dining area at the back. The tables in the bar area really do seem to be crammed in with a number of them just catering for two people. I noticed that the breakfasts here are slightly cheaper than average. The ten hand pumps had three available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom , a cider, Oakleaf Hole Hearted & Donkey's Delight and Marston's One is 90. This choice wasn't that great but the two Oakleaf beers saved the day and the Donkey's Delight was in reasonable nick. This isn't too bad a Spoons but if they could do something about the cramped tables in the bar area it would be an improvement.

Average Spoons but well attended on my morning visit,the coffee brigade were in so there was a short wait at the bar.10 handpumps with for the large part a rather poor selection of usual suspects with the exception of my choice Adnams/mateo Bernabe international collaboration beer, Birra Armada which was excellent.That aside not a pub I would look to revisit.

Typical JDW, one large, slightly dim bar, with partitioned area at the end for ? Tables a tad too close together, staff trying to clear tables of dirty plates etc, and a wait at the bar for service Daytime seems to be mainly ladies who lunch & refugees from nearby coffee shops & burger bars However a pleasant change from the other two local village centre pubs, so I will continue to use this one Given the local area not likely to degenerate into an alky zone Not one to deliberately make a must visit option, but certainly worth dropping in if in area