The Avion (JD Wetherspoon), Walsall

Busy pub with a decent selection of ales and the usual JDW ones. Chose the Backyard IPA which was well enough kept. Large outdoor seating area at the rear overlooking a large car park.

Grand-looking Art Deco cinema dating from 1938, although the interior (while still interesting) doesn't quite match up to some of this chain's other conversions. Still, it was very busy on a Wednesday evening, with nearly all of the seating / dining areas already taken. On a fine Spring evening, most of the patio tables on the rear terrace were occupied too. Not a bad selection of real ales from the two banks of six handpumps, with the local Davenport's Bath Row pale catching my eye.

I thought this was quite a well executed cinema conversion. It's well described below but the main point is that it is obviously a former cinema. There is a pleasant verandah at the rear looking westwards over Aldridge. It was busy on a Saturday afternoon but not hopelessly so. The bar has two sets of six hand punps which had one unused, one available soon, the GK beers doubled up, Doom Bore, Slater's Top Totty & Premium Best, Beowulf Dragon Smoke Stout, Brewster's Hop a Doodle Doo and Summerskill's Barley Mow Mild. I went for the Beowulf Stout which was in excellent condition. This is GBG 2016 listed and although an above average Spoons I thought the beer selection could have been a lot better.