Sir John Hawkshaw (JD Wetherspoon), Cannon Street, EC4

Visited the Sir John Hawkshaw yesterday (6 March 15) lunchtime with three friends. Nice well lit pub with fresh interior and a decent selection of cask ales, although the Doombar (the preferred choice of the four of us) ran out after two rounds so we had to switch to London Pride (this was disappointing)! We were there for most of the afternoon so sat in the restaurant area so we could order lunch. We all ordered different meals which arrived within literally a few minutes of ordering, which suggested that they had been sitting around for a while and were quickly heated up - they looked like it! However they tasted OK and were reasonably priced for Central London. The most staggering thing was that there was no toilet on the premises!!! Never before have I visited a pub (and I have been to a few) that was without a toilet! Instead we were told to use the public toilets on the other side of the concourse, down a flight of stairs, BIZARRE!!! As we were there for 3-4 hours and consumed a number of pints, this was extremely inconvenient - I'm not really sure how, in 2015, a pub/restaurant can get away with this unless the Sir JH is only designed to provide a quick pint for commuters on their way home, but it that is the case then why provide such an extensive food menu. So all in all a rather disappointing experience and one, I fancy, that we will not repeat!

This station bar is named after the engineer who was responsible for much of the railway infrastructure into Cannon Street and Charing Cross back in the 19th Century. It is located next to the end of Platform 1 at Cannon Street Station but outside the barriers. Inside it is a small modern rectangular room with just high tables and chairs but there is a small cramped room on the right with lower tables, chairs and benches. The patio area on the station concourse provides more tables and chairs and is almost as large as the main bar area inside. The menu appears to be a cut down version of the Standard Spoons with most things being roughly a quid dearer. There was no mention of the usual food "clubs" nor the cheapskate Monday where the guest ales are 20p a pint cheaper. I got here just befor 12:30 on a Monday and it was quiet. Beers on offer were London Pride, GK IPA, Doom Bore, Bombardier, Caledonian Harpoon The Long Thaw and Hook Norton Old Hooky. I went for the Old Hooky which was £3.15 the standard guest ale price here and in reasonaby good condition. There were no posters or evidence that they were taking part in the current mini London beer festival or the nationwide Spoons one in a couple of weeks time. Given that and the limited beer selection I can see no point in coming here at all unless there is time to kill waiting for a train. Opening times have yet to be posted on the JDW web site.

Sir John Hawkshaw page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Sir John Hawkshaw page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

New Wetherspoons on station concourse - opens 10 February

New Wetherspoon's adjacent to platform 1 in Cannon Street Railway Station. This must be one of the smallest Wetherspoon's and is really more like a station buffet bar. Six handpumps with mainly big brewery beers. This pub is ok for a pint before you catch your train but is not the place to linger for much longer.