The Bloxwich Showman (JD Wetherspoon), Walsall

Usual JDW fare here and guest beers from Green Jack and an international ale brewed at Wadworth which was fine.

Named after Pat Collins, one time Bloxwegian, fair owner and mayor of Walsall, and owner of the first cinema on the site 1912-1921 called the Electric Palace. This is the second cinema, opened in 1922, called the Grosvenor, and is in classical style. Spoons were going to take the now demolished Bulls Head before this property came on the market (closure of the Youth Club mentioned by Mr A below). The pub has a patio, is on two floors, is in the mixed Spoons decor but with a mural of a Ferris wheel on the wall. In general the same as other places, but it usually serves 3 guest ales (with the usual 3) and they always seem to be pale ales (Kelham featuring a lot). The Exmoor Gold I had last night was a bonus and it was in decent nick, too. Usual Spoons crowd. Worth a visit.

This is a new (Jan 2015) Wetherspoon based in the old Electric Palace Cinema building in the centre of Bloxwich. It was also a youth club which closed in 2011. Inside, as you would expect it's a large high ceilinged building with the bar on the left and a sweeping staircase on the right leading to an upper area. Again, as you would expect the toilets are situated up there. The front of the building is carpeted and has tables and chairs for dining while the rest of the ground floor has laminate flooring with taller tables and chairs. I declined from looking into the upper level. On a Saturday afternoon the place was busy with all sorts of people but not rammed. The bar has twelve hand pumps which on my visit had the two GK beers, London Pride, Coach House Post Horn, one unused and seven festival beers. I went for the Everard's Townshend's JCIPA (£1.99 festival price) which was in superb nick. I much preferred this place to other newly opened Spoons I've been to this year.