The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon), March

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

This is an obvious cinema conversion both inside and out. It seems rather large for a provincial town Spoons but it is also one of their hotels. The old cinema has been very well restored and there is all sorts of film bric-a-brac. The furnishings seemed to be fairly standard Spoons with a mix of tall and low tables. It was busy on my Saturday afternoon visit. Like most cinema conversions the bar is down where the screen would have been. One of the problems with allowing families into pubs is that there is often one or more irresponsible and useless parent that allow their offspring to use the pub as a playground. This was the case today when a single child was running around and screaming like a banshee, ruining the visit for those like me seated in that corner of the pub. The staff are stretched enough without having to deal with nonsense like this. Although there are 10 hand pumps the beer selection was poor with the two GK beers & Broadside doubled up. The presence of London Pride left just Banks's Central Session Room IPA, Wolf Ale and Grainstore Rutland Beast. I went for the Rutland Beast which was first class and good value at £1.99. Despite the screaming brat I thought this was an above average Spoons but let down by the poor beer choice.

Interesting interior in this converted cinema by JDW. Usual standard beers on plus guests from Adnams, Milestone and Saltaire. Good service and clean tables. The lady serving also sounded as though she knew her ales as well as serving them.