The Iron Duke (JD Wetherspoon), Wellington

A grand building, with some interesting architectural features including the circular first floor terrace overlooking the ground floor, the upstairs bar which used to be a cinema, and vaulted cellars now containing the toilets, which feels like a medieval dungeon. As indicated by Aqualung, below, this business is a shambles even by JDW standards. Twelve handpumps on the bar: 2 with Ruddles, two with Doombar, 2 with Abbott. Two were clipped Jail Ale, but there was none available. Two were clipped Lancaster Red, none was available. One was clipped Quantock Stout, the last one Bay’s Topsail; that’s right, none available. There was no real cider, warm or otherwise. The staff are a joke, except the poor visiting manager who was staggered at the collective incompetence of the local staff. In times of hardship, the British are known to come together and laugh in the face of adversity, and that was happening here – those customers who weren’t too drunk or too fat were indeed finding the situation highly amusing. Some of them were here from having got unruly children — some for minor offences — many more for drink; but you can hardly conceive such a set brought together, and it really is wonderful that Tim Martin should have made them the fine fellows they are (with apologies to the eponymous Duke).

Apparently this is set in a former town hall. As you enter there is a small eating area followed by a large rectangular bar area with a further eating area behind. I completely missed the upstairs area which on a November Tuesday afternoon may not have been open. Although there are twelve hand pumps here the beer choice was dire with the IPA version of the JDW Trio Of Doom with Abbot and Doom Bore doubled, Dartmoor Jail Ale (Doom Bore in sheep's clothing) doubled, three ciders and two unused. One of the unused pumps was clipped with Dartmoor Legend but had "just gone off" as coincidentally had the Black Dragon cider which also remained clipped. The ciders were piled in boxes at the end of the bar not the cellar or fridge so were too warm. I went for a Thatchers cider which as expected was too warm. I also found that the food clubs here are more expensive than average. I thought this one was hopeless and wouldn't return. It only avoids the score of shame as it isn't a Lloyds No. 1.