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Beer of the Week (w/e 27th April 2025) with Thuck Phat
on the Pub Forum
Detail Pages
The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon), Stevenage
Stevenage
SG1 3AU
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Quinno _ left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
Small, cramped and fairly charmless JDW opened in 2000. Two distinct rooms back-to-back, a more pleasant loungey part in the old building facing the road with an airport waiting room effort behind, which is where the bar and sports TV (Grand Prix, oddly) is. Very cramped seating in the rear part; unpleasant, especially with detritus piling up everywhere (this was the day after the England quarter final, so I suspect a few sickies were pulled by staff). Five guest ales plus an impressive selection of crafty cans (assuming the app was up to date). My New River Lost River was actually pretty decent (NBSS 3), when it eventually showed-up. Stevenage has a pretty ropey set of pubs and this one didn’t do much to stake a claim as the best in town, given the fairly low bar.
On 24th July 2024
- rating: 5
[User has posted 5552 recommendations about 5533 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Ian Mapp left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
Typical Spoons... Nice outdoor patio area at the front.
Nothing more to say.
On 16th September 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1563 recommendations about 1543 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
Full of very noisy people including children which put me off. One long room with bar to the left middle and rear, also outside seating. Usual selection of ales but you won't see me returning.
On 10th September 2017
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
I was surprised to find that this pub only goes back to Spring 2000 as I thought it was a rather Old School style of Spoons. It's been described more than well enough below so I'll get onto the beer. Despite the festival the right bank of five pumps were taken up with a cider and four of the regular Spoons offerings. On the left bank the Titanic Wit Stout was available soon so there were just four festival ales. I went for the Shepherd Neame Boadicea and the Hydes Paddock Wood which were in pretty good nick. This seemed like a fairly straightforward sort of Spoons to me.
On 22nd March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Bucking Fastard left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
This 'spoons in based in the acceptable part of Stevenage ,the Old Town High Street is full of attractive Georgian buildings,former coaching inns and now some smart places to eat.This building is late Georgian and quite small probably a fomer pub rather than coaching inn,although it was a bank from the 60's until converted to 'spoons.The best part of the interior is to the front with two wings off the entrance lobby which has a real fireplace operational on cold days.However as you go through the central corridor,the array of fruit machines and boring furniture lower the tone ,while the rear barn like extension is modern and has at one end a full height glazed panel and opening french windows to the right.The bar is in the extension and most of the all day drinkers,the unfit and unhealthy gather in this part of the pub with it's ranks of non descript chairs,tables and high tables.It's architypal 'spoons.
Outside to the right of the building is a cut through which houses a large collection of circular bench seats with jumberallas ,so exterior drinking and smoking is well catered for.
At the bar there are two ranks of five handpumps with the righthand side having boring regulars GK IPA and Abbott,Doom Bar,London Pride and Adnams Broadside.The left handside has the guests ales but on my trip two were unclipped ,Brains SA was coming soon (worth waiting for???) leaving just Ilkley Ruby Jane (so so condition) and an International Festival ale Nils Oscar IPA.
Having read a glowing report on What Pub,I was left disappointed on my trip.There are certainly worse 'spoons but I have been in many better ones with more commitment to tip top and intesting real ale.Can't summond up the enthusiasm for another visit.
On 11th March 2015
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2936 recommendations about 2936 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
A nice old frontage, but much extended to the rear by Wetherspoon. Standard interior, with seating supplemented by a side patio and some wooden tables at the front. Reasonable selection from ten handpumps, including the Stone Supremely Self-conscious Black Ale (£2.15).
On 20th October 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8679 recommendations about 8678 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
Well, yes it is a ‘Spoons, but given the dearth of decent pubs in Stevenage, it’s still got a part to play in the town’s drinking scene. Converted from a bank, hence the name, it actually looks like neither pub nor bank thanks to an attractive brick exterior. It’s something of a pub of two halves, with the front area feeling like a cosy traditional pub with a good deal of comfortable seating as well as a pleasant outdoor patio area. The room narrows as you head towards the rear of the pub, before opening out again once you reach the bar. Here you find a more standard Wetherspoons layout with rows of tables and chairs opposite the servery. Half of the ceiling is transparent, so it’s nice and light during daylight hours and this is further helped by a large, floor to ceiling window on the back wall. Around the perimeter of the room there are some sofas and along one wall there are some unusual high backed pews. A TV screen was turned off during my stay, but visual distraction is provided by some photos of local scenes and an odd painting of a roundabout. Doors at the side and rear of the room lead to more outdoor seating areas.
There are ten hand pumps on the bar and I counted just the one ‘Spoons regular, with eight guest ales, mostly from the national festival, and one real cider. I tried a pint of the Hawkshead Windermere Pale which was outstanding and showed them worthy of their GBG inclusion.
We all know the shortcomings of Wetherspoons pubs but I thought this place was one of the chain’s better efforts and in a town where it’s hard to find a well kept pint, I’d certainly make the effort to pay a return visit.
On 5th May 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john mcgraw left this review about The Standing Order (JD Wetherspoon)
In the old town and away from the concrete jungle down the road this is a fairly comfortable Wetherspoon's with a couple of seperate drinking areas.Had a fair range of guest beers.
On 5th August 2009
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2044 recommendations about 2025 pubs]