The Posset Cup (JD Wetherspoon), Portishead, Bristol

Official site of The Posset Cup (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Posset Cup (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

A new build Wetherspoons in the popular marina area of Portishead, it has only been open a couple of weeks and was full to capacity on a recent Saturday lunchtime visit, perhaps due to all the locals checking out their new facility which is sure to put a dent in Hall & Woodhouse’s income. It’s all one single, open plan room but double height at the front with a mezzanine level balcony leading to the loos. The curved windows make the most of this height and offer great views of the adjacent Travel Lodge & Lidl – unfortunately you can’t actually see the marina from here. They’ve used some very vibrant blue paintwork at the front with paler shades elsewhere. The rear of the pub has quite a low ceiling with cornice work giving something of a panelled effect and there was further pale blue panelling along the right hand wall. The left hand wall was exposed brickwork with some wooden partitions forming individual booths, backed with black and white photographs. Seating is conventional tables and chairs at the rear with pods at the front – three curved sofas back to back each around their own table. A brick built free standing dual aspect chimney breast was something of a feature and this housed a gas fire. Beers on tap were Doom Bar, Ruddles Best, Abbot Ale, Butcombe, Black Sheep Bighorn, Exmoor Posset Cup Gold, Irish Peated Bitter, Burton Bitter, Gem and Dirty Tackle. That said, I think two or three of these were for the forthcoming ale festival and not actually available yet. There were also a few craft ale options listed on a board, although I did not note these. Ciders were well represented with Magners, Thatcher’s Gold, Thatcher’s Haze, Strongbow, Strongbow Dark Fruit and Orchard Pig Reveller.