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The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon), Northwich
Northwich
CW9 5AB
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
Branch of Wetherspoon's in a Grade II listed former post office building. The exterior is far more impressive than the interior. You enter into a front room with side rooms either side. Beyond that is the main room with the bar on the right-hand side and a raised seating area to the left. A couple of large pictures of the Penny Black stamp dominate the rear wall, next to where a short corridor leads to the ground floor (yes, ground floor!) toilets.
It's quite bright inside, helped by some skylights. The usual carpets are in place. Games machines can be found in the middle of the main room, whilst there was at least one TV showing the news on mute. Children are allowed in.
The usual JD Wetherspoon cask ales were available - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar. With the 'spoon's beer festival in full swing, guest beers on cask were Redemption Yard Work, Birrificio Italiano Nigredo, Salem Coastal Confusion, Elgood's Shug Monkey & Brains Crimson Legend. The cider was Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon.
After an initial drink and some food, we returned here for a second drink after finding another pub we wanted to visit in the town closed. Service from a female member of staff the first time around was good. The second time we walked in, a male member of staff was rushed off his feet with a couple of women (not sure if one was the one who served us before) chatting to one another without any attempt to help the guy.
A fairly unremarkable Wetherspoon's. The festival beers I tried were not to my taste. But in a town with very few decent pubs, this one is probably still a highlight for the locals. Apparently there is a car park behind the pub but being a Sunday, we could park on the street for free.
On 9th March 2026
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3409 recommendations about 3407 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Strongers . left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
The Penny Black is a Wetherspoons with a raised front seating area to the right before the bar counter that runs up the right-hand wall. High tables down the centre of the pub and standard furniture at the rear all sit under a V-shaped roof with big skylights. Out the back is a decked seating area. The bar supports standard and premium keg and the two duplicate banks of six hand pumps were drawing Ruddles, Sharp’s Doom Bar, GK Abbot Ale, Grainstore’s Ten Fifty, Acorn Brewery’s Endeavour IPA and Mobberley’s Sidekick. The Grainstore was OK, but I had to ask for my drink to be topped up, as did the customer before me. I wasn’t very impressed with this place.
On 25th March 2023
- rating: 5
[User has posted 6560 recommendations about 6522 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
This Spoons is unusual as initially it looks like an old coaching inn but as noted below that's a mirage as it's a former post office dating fron 1914. Inside the truth dawns since apart from the sorting office beams being wooden instead of iron it has the same old layout as all the other JDW former post offices. The low ceilinged front section includes a room off to the right then behind this is the barn like former sorting office with the bar on the right.
This doesn't stop it being a good Spoons as it had the best beer choice I've seen for some time with one available soon, the JDW Trio Of Doom with Abbot doubled, Abbot Reserve, Orkney Red Macgregor, Moorhouse First Cut & Pendle Witches Brew, Slater's Top Totty, Beartown Kodak Gold and Dunscar Black IPA. I went for the Abbot Reserve (£2.09) which was in good nick.
Despite the sorting office barn I thought this was a good Spoons.
On 20th September 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
An impressive looking Wethers from the outside. Inside is fairly standard Wethers and it is quite nice. Its mainly open plan with various areas to sit. 12 handpumps on the bar and a quite decent selection on this visit.
On 16th January 2017
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
Former purpose built Post Office and Grade 2 listed building that is situated on the main pedestrianised shopping street.The pub has a very attractive facade and a bright and large open planned interior.There was a good varied range of cask beers on show,one of which, the Moorhouse's Black Panther prooved to be a was a winner.It made a pleasant change to have three friendly and efficient bar persons on hand who were doing a fine job.This year the pub was voted by CAMRA to be the best in North Cheshire, after finishing runner up in 2011.Definitely one of the better JDW pubs and is worth a visit
On 20th June 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2453 recommendations about 2404 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
Very imposing four-storey mock-Tudor exterior which was built as recently as 1914. Inside, the high ceilings of the main bar area give a bit of a barn-like feel, but there some side seating areas that are slightly more to human scale. Better still, if the weather permits, is the sizable side patio and rear beer garden which offers a good amount of outdoor seating. 12 handpumps offering an excellent range of less usual ales, including a fine Lymestone Foundation Stone (£1.99) as well as the usual suspects. Overall, pretty good for a 'spoons.
On 1st March 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 9063 recommendations about 9063 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Richard Brown left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
Some great ever changing real ales. Sadly, no lovely lager as this is a contradiction of terms.
On 27th May 2010
- rating: 6
[User has posted 13 recommendations about 12 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
Ex post office which is now a large Wetherspoon's with a single bar and several small drinking areas.Nice outside drinking area.Very good selection of real ales.
On 6th May 2010
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Malden man left this review about The Penny Black (JD Wetherspoon)
I'd say this is one of the biggest Wetherspoons barns I've been in especially with the very high ceiling, but having stuck my head into the few adjoining pubs a better option. Formerly the town's main post sorting office, hence the name. Decent range of local and micro brews but served very cold, hence removing much of the taste. A sign over the bar states "All draught beers served between 1-3C" I've noted this in other 'Spoons, but usually referring to lagers. I can only assume the locals like it that way.
On 31st January 2009
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1710 recommendations about 1683 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Dale Miles left this review about The Penny Black
this very large pub was the old post office hence the name the penny black, a wetherspoons style pub great value beer lovely lager, serves food daily.
On 10th May 2008
- rating: 6
[User has posted 184 recommendations about 182 pubs]