The Jam Garden, Loughborough

Another of the disguised Wells pubs like the Tree in Leicester. Similar set-up in here, not a bad woody fit-out which is light and bright compared to other current corporate places but little of interest at the bar. The 'Brewpoint' Genesis took an age to get sorted and wasn't going to bother a decent Guinness. Alarmingly loose T bar as well. Really quiet, it isn’t in the best location these days and doesn’t really have a USP.

Jam Garden was busy with dining families and students during a recent bank holiday Monday afternoon visit. Most were sitting in the open plan seating across the front of the pub, but there were also a few in the left rear dining area where a pizza oven can be found. The League Two play-off final was being aired on a single television which was muted while some very slow muzak played in the background. The serving counter up the right-hand wall supports premium keg alongside four hand pumps, but unfortunately one of the staff informed me that Brewpoint Brewery’s Anchorman had just gone off which left two hand pumps that were being used to prompt customers to ask for a taster of the non-existent ale and a third had a QR code on it so that inquisitive customers could do some further reading on the non-existent ale. I ended up ordering half of their Foghorn lager which was OK. The service was polite, but this isn’t my sort of place so I’ll not be returning. Also, I noted a ticketed over 30’s day party advertised for an upcoming Saturday, so be warned that entry isn’t always free.

Previously the Wheatsheaf hotel of venerable age, the inside has been ruthlessly modernised although bizarrely some lincrusta wallpaper survives. It’s a fairly woody design with board floors, a touch of tongue and groove including one part of the ceiling and a fairly neat counter. The servery lies along part of the length of the right hand side of the front area, further back it narrows by a pizza servery and the garden - jam status unknown. The furnishings in the front window sections are sofas and armchairs, tall or short in the middle then lower tables and chairs in the pizza area. Two T-Bars on the counter with a set of four pulls between them, I got excited seeing that but three had “try a taster” clips and just a beer from Brewpoint available on the fourth. The glassware was a handled jug but at least not a dimpled mug and it was emblazoned “Brewpoint Bedford”. This is an offshoot of former brewery Wells & Co who apparently own the pub. The kegs much as expected, a couple labelled Brewpoint the others UK produced euro lager and cider but no Guinness. Screens, machines and music of course, Mary Celeste staffing.

Official site of The Jam Garden - www.jamgardenloughborough.co.uk

Official site of The Jam Garden - www.jamgardenloughborough.co.uk

Facebook page of The Jam Garden - www.facebook.com