The Willow Tree (JD Wetherspoon), Stowmarket

Brand new 'spoons; only been open for a few days and you can still smell fresh paint in the stairway leading to the toilets. It doesn't look very big from the street, but the building extends a long way back and benefits from having windows along the side and rear meaning that it is unusually light inside. Very busy, but well staffed and my lunch appeared much quicker than I expected. Good selection of real ales from the ten handpumps, including two from the local Cliff Quay Brewery - Docks Bollards and Tumble Home (£2.25). They are obviously making an extra effort at the start, but if the management keep the standards up this place should do very well.

The WIllow Tree pages at the JD Wetherspoon site - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk