The Admiral Collingwood (JD Wetherspoon), Ilfracombe

As noted below this is a new purpose built Spoons overlooking the sea. It's a single storey curved building that apparently includes a roof terrace which may not have been open on my early April visit. Inside the open plan room has been divided into areas. It seemed to be doing a roaring trade on my Thursday early afternoon visit although it was a sunny day. Most people seemed to be in for food and there was no obvious daytime brigade. Although the bar has two sets of six hand pumps everything was doubled up. The choice was the JDW Trio Of Doom, Bays Topsail & Devon Dumpling and Hilden Irish Red Rye. I went for the Red Rye (£2.55) which was in very good nick. This new pub has won an award for the design. It didn't really appeal to me but quite honestly neither did Ilfracombe. Although the beer here is only slightly high on the JDW scale I thought that the food prices were possibly dearer than Central London Spoons. It's a great place for the visitors but I wouldn't return.

The Admiral Collingwood page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

The Admiral Collingwood page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

After a 3.5 Million development by Wetherspoons The Admiral Collingwood opened early last year and is sited where the former Collingwood Hotel once stood.The North Devon Journal asked readers to put forward potential names for the new pub with the Admiral Collingwood being chosen although rather strangely the man had no connection at all with Illfracombe.The upper tier is a very smart area offering excellent views out to sea. The staff were very friendly and efficient and in general the pub had a good atmosphere with a fair assortment of cask beers.