The Court of Requests (JD Wetherspoon), Oldbury

A detached Spoons chain pub and eatery. The place dates to 1816, when it was the Court of Requests (sort of forerunner to the Magistrate Court and County Courts). It later became the central police station and then the library until taken over in 2012. The building is in plain brick with Romanesque sash windows with moulding above in white. The interior is, in effect, one long open-plan room. The front area is dominated by heavy wood panel, with coffee, white and green coloured walls and ceilings, with a moulded cornice. There are lots and lots of books and large glass lampshades. You then go through a black and white glazed tile area (floor and walls), with silly pictures indicative of its former uses as a library and police station (wanted posters and filing trays). You then head into another foody area in bluey/grey etc. The place is of course all foody, with everyone seemingly eating - a mixed clientele. The service was functional. There wasn't a TV that i saw and of course there was no music. Beer; usual tap stuff, with Abbott, Ruddles, Springhead Roaring Meg, Robin Hood (ok) and Kelham Pale Rider. Usually i am critical of Spoons and on the odd accasion, i praise - this falls into a different category - i just found it dull. I could have fallen asleep here, it seemed lifeless.