The Royal Oak (JD Wetherspoon), Dorchester

So-so 'spoons - friendly and efficient staff, normal decent range of beers and the food was palatable. A bit of a rabbit warren inside and some of the furnishings distinctly down-market. Could, perhaps, do with a lick of paint or at least a bloody good clean.

This is a wetherspoons pub and eatery in two Georgian style buildings; that on the left being in cream render with part ashlar facade and has bay windows, the other building is more plain, in mainly undressed brick. There is a patio. The interior is a nestling of areas on different floors; indeed the serving bar is up the stairs and to the left - it is easier to negotiate the Hampton Court maze than find the bogs if there were no signs. Yes, it is a Spoons, so the decor is cream, wood panel, white, green, red, blue - shall i go on? OK, there was plum as well. The bar is nicely wood panelled. There are arty pictures on the walls and of course it is laid out for food, the food being fine - as we pick things that are hard to foul up. There was no music and the usual silent TVs were evident. The service was fine, the clientele the usual spoons mix. Beer; tap stuff, along with the usual Ruddles and Abbots on handpull. Guests beers on handpull included Pewsey Saxon Archer, Dorset Piddle's Jimmy Riddle, Ringwood Old Thumper, Okells Premium Celtic Ale, Bank & Taylor SOD and Cottage's Tornado - i tried a few halfs and they were up and down in quality - the Cottage was good though. It's a Spoons, you know what you will get that is why most people go - God shudder to think people may try something new. Saying that, i have been to worse Spoons.

Official page of The Royal Oak - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Official page of The Royal Oak - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk