The Belle & Lion (JD Wetherspoon), Sheerness

This is a surprisingly large Spoons that is narrow and very long. The bar is on the left soon after you enter and some way after that is a lighter back area with alcoves on the left and a patio through some glass doors on the right. It was quite busy on my Friday morning visit at around 11:30. Although there are two banks of six hand pumps the beer choice here was not that good. The first six had the JDW Trio Of Doom, 2 available soon and Ringwood 49er. The second had one available soon, Abbot, Doom Bore, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Ringwood 49er and Otter Amber. I went for the Old Hooky (£2.09) and the 49er (£2.09) later after having just missed a train. Both were in very good nick and cheap for the South. However, some of the food prices here are more expensive than average notably the mid-week Clubs and the mixed grill which is two quid dearer here than the typical price. I can only conclude that food here is a lot more popular than the real ales. It's an average sort of JDW that I thought was OK but doubt that I would return.

Unusually small frontage for a new 'spoons outlet, but not only is the rectangular bar area of a reasonable size but there is also an elongated single-storey extension beyond (with booths along one wall) which more than doubles the floor area. Side patio beer garden featuring three unusual bench seats formed from upturned rowing-boat prows. Reasonable selection from eight of 12 handpumps in operation, including the seasonal Yuletide from Adnams at a bargain £1.99.

Named after a previous nearby Bell and Lion dating from around 1790 which was demolished several decades ago, Sheppey's only JDW is housed in the former Brittain and Hobbes electricals shop. The original name is unknown – Bell and Lion is believed to be a corruption of La Belle Alliance, an action at Waterloo, so the pub predates the name. It has a narrow front but is deep and long. The floor is mostly carpeted, with laminate floors around the bar counter and entrance. There are gaming machines, large prints of the old Sheerness Dockyard and free WiFi. Nine ales on, I had Jennings's Snecklifter which was well past its best. The pub doesn't appear popular, and it seems a lot of beer from last Autumn's national festival was wasted or passed on to other local businesses. The staff were very offhand, a surprise considering the manager was previously at Dartford's Paper Moon, which is well run. An average 'Spoons.

Microwaved meals and staff were being told off a lot as we were sitting outside trying to eat in peace! Doesn't aspire much confidence if staff are all wrong according to the loud foreign woman shouting at them! Wouldn't recommend to anyone until they learn that customers can actually hear them and shouldn't go round calling them all "Skanks" in public, a bit of a shame really as some of the girls seemed really nice! And the pub layout is lovely too, I think some of the staff need to learn to be quiet!