The Sawyer's Arms (JD Wetherspoon), Exeter

So the latest GBG took me a good way out to sample this oddity – a flat-roofed 60’s precinct pub in the 'burbs which came into their estate around 2009 and has retained the Sawyer’s Arms monicker – apparently ‘a brilliant karaoke pub’ (review passim) back in the day. Not too large inside, and it's decorated fairly well; wallpaper, cream shades, and some dark wood MDF panelling. Inevitably gloomy as you venture further back due to the lack of penetrative natural light. Four guest cask and my Bay's Devon Dumpling justified its GBG inclusion (NBSS 3.5). Sedate atmosphere and the breakfast was in good order, though I faux-pas’d by asking for the smashed avocado muffin – such gentrified delights are not available in this neck of the woods. Curate’s egg of the Spoons estate, I was happy enough.

This is a fairly old fashioned branch of Wetherspoons, serving the area close to St Thomas Station. The pub is relatively small by modern Wetherspoons standards, but has a nice pub feel thanks to a fully carpeted interior, loads of dark wood panelling, a few blocky pillars to break up the floor space, and tonnes of typical Spoons seating. The bulk of the seating comes in the form of standard tables and chairs, supported by a single strip of high tables and stools plus some benches around the perimeter. The bar is hidden on entry, tucked over to the left midway into the pub, but screened by the kitchen area. The bar has a plain dark wood counter and nondescript bar back with nice orange lamps above the counter. Rear part of the pub is perhaps the cosiest, as the room narrows a fair bit and has a lit fireplace on the back wall, almost feeling like a proper pub room, unlike the more open plan remainder of the pub. There was a mixed Friday night crowd with the usual old boys and middle aged couples mingling with students and younger customers preloading before a night out on the tiles. On the bar, the three regular ‘Spoons ales were supplemented by four guests, although these were mainly mainstream options like Fullers London Pride and Adnams Ghost Ship. I tried the most interesting one, which happened to be an excellent pint of Oakham JHB, clocking in at a very reasonable £1.99. Sdly, there was more of the queuing nonsense prevalent in many Devon Wetherspoons, at the bar. As always, I ignored the line and stood at the bar like a normal person, and was served relatively quickly. I’m not entirely sure what it was about this place, which doesn’t particularly distinguish itself from many other branches of the chain up and down the country, but I found myself really enjoying this pub. Perhaps it was the tasty pint, the lively atmosphere or the comfy rear seating area, but I left feeling this was another good Exeter ‘Spoons and a great option if you find yourself at this end of town.

This one is the "poor man" of the four Exeter JDWs being set on the Western edge of the St Thomas suburb and consisting of a very dull original post war pub that is essentially just a square box. Inside it's unsurprisingly a low ceilinged open plan room with typical fixtures and fittings. It's smaller than many of their outlets. Despite the out of town location it was busy on an early Thursday evening but with mainly locals. One plus side from the location is that the food prices are cheaper than in most of their Devon outlets. There are eight hand pumps which had the IPA version of the JDW Trio Of Doom, Bays Topsail, Gold, Devon Dumpling & Trunk Ale and Exmoor Gold. I went for the Trunk Ale (£2.15) which was in good nick. I then went on to order a curry club which is when it all went pear shaped. I ordered a Vindaloo with a Devon Dumpling as the drink which the curry flyer and food menu specifically state includes "any real ale". The Devon Dumpling as a Premium guest at £2.29 was just 14p dearer then the standard price but I was told by the barmaid that I couldn't have it. The time spent in arguing over this cost a lot more than 14p worth of the barmaid's time and I ended up with an Abbot priced at £2.49. It seemed a reasonably good local Spoons apart from the building but the fiasco of the curry club drink drags the score right down.

Official site of The Sawyer's Arms (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Sawyer's Arms (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Low-rise 'spoons in a small shopping precinct. Reasonable size 'L'-shaped bar with all the usual dark furniture and decor. Also has a small patio area at the front. Busy - but hardly raucous - on a Friday evening, so the two door staff seemed wholly otiose. Two banks of four handpumps, with the usual suspects supplemented by Bays 2016 and the 'ultra premium' Otter Head (£2.69)