The Velvet Coaster (JD Wetherspoon), Blackpool

Unusual JDW with two floors and a central lift plus an outside patio and a first floor terrace. Neither of these were much use to us in the heavy rain that was falling at the time. There's some kind of giant on display in the downstairs area, no idea what that's about. A decent crowd in on our Sunday, early afternoon visit, with lots of coffee being sold to tourists avoiding the rain. A good selection of ales on the bar and good, attentive staff. A bit more expensive than a standard JDW, probably because of the tourist market. I didn't mind this place at all and would happily call in again.

Looks like a new-build 'spoons but apparently a converted amusement arcade, located between the Pleasure Beach and South Pier. Two bars, with the main one at ground-floor level and a smaller one (with a seasonal terrace) up a flight of steps and plenty of patio tables out front Perhaps most notable for the tubular hanging light features and the two wood-fired decorative heaters in the cavernous area by the main entrance. Reasonable selection of real ales from the various handpumps on the two counters, and unusually all the guest beers seemed to be about 5.0% (including the Bank Top Palomino Rising, £2.29).

Large Spoons in a prominent position near the pleasure beach. Absolutely heaving on my visit - We had planned to grab some food but we struggled to find a seat so I had a pint and gave up. There looked a decent choice of beers but it was hard to tell! It felt like drinking in a modern shopping centre with the glass lift in constant use - mainly by kids.

The latest JDW offering for Blackpool is a large place with two floors and a roof garden that I assume was closed on a January evening. It was virtually empty on my Thursday visit, even though the other two outlets had some trade. It has a cut down menu with no Mexican Monday or Sunday Brunch and is expensive for a JDW. The Steak Club is a whopping £9.99 and the other three £8.99. I didn't check the upstairs bar but the choice over the twelve pumps downstairs was pathetic with three available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up, Everard's Red Ale, Lytham Fetler's Ale and Cairngorm Wild Cat. I went for the Red Ale (£2.55) which was completely rank and was replaced with the Wild Cat (£2.55) which seemed OK. The standard guest ale price here is just £1.99 so the premium guest price tag is steep in comparison. I thought this place was pretty poor but is probably even worse on a summer weekend. I'll leave it for the knotted handkerchief brigade.