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The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon), March

Pub added by adam bell
Dartford Road
March
PE15 8AQ
Phone: 01354602980

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Pub Type

J D Wetherspoon

Reviews (Current Rating Average: 7 of 10) Add Review see review guidelines


Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon)

My final stop of the night in Cambridgeshire was this Wetherspoon's branch that unsurprisingly was an old cinema. It has also been a bingo hall in between times.

The entrance foyer is quite eye catching and is covered with old cinema posters. Entering into what was the main auditorium, the bar can be seen in a sunken area against the rear wall and where the screen would have been. There is now a frieze above the bar called the March Montage, which captures local points of interest. An information board near the entrance details what can be seen on the Montage.

At the bar itself, there are replica Hollywood Hall of Fame stars on the floor. The large open-plan seating area is carpeted with 2 large art deco lighting fixtures hanging from the high ceiling. The former balcony still wraps its way around the room, but you cannot access it. To the right-hand side is a further small sunken area.

Off to the left is a large outdoor area which eventually doubles back to the street with a fairylit area adjacent to the road. Stairs up to the toilets have pictures of old film stars - Clark Gable, Paul Newman & Clint Eastwood. Near the gents, there is another information panel for Sir Clive Woodward, who was from nearby Ely.

Service was poor here. There were huge numbers of glasses stacking up on tables. Staff had obviously asked to start clearing them up. Despite there being several of them, most were either collecting, washing or stacking glasses back on shelves. Those that weren't were dealing with massive table orders for cocktails and weird mixers for the predominantly youthful crowd. That left just one young guy behind the bar who hadn't got a clue who to serve next, which was getting plenty of people frustrated as he served everybody out of turn, seemingly with little care.

The usual 'spoon's real ales were on - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar. Guest beers were Oakham Citra & Woodforde's West Coast Wherry. The cider was Weston's Old Rosie.

This branch of Wetherspoon's is certainly an impressive building. For all of their faults, the chain does do a good job of restoring old buildings. My West Coast Wherry was also a nice beer to finish my day on. However, poor service is a common theme across the chain with staff and managers who don't really seem to care. Wifi did not work here either. In fact, it's a shame that there was mobile data, as I may have got served much quicker!

On 23rd July 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3040 recommendations about 3038 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Aqualung . left this review about The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon)

This is an obvious cinema conversion both inside and out. It seems rather large for a provincial town Spoons but it is also one of their hotels.
The old cinema has been very well restored and there is all sorts of film bric-a-brac. The furnishings seemed to be fairly standard Spoons with a mix of tall and low tables. It was busy on my Saturday afternoon visit. Like most cinema conversions the bar is down where the screen would have been.
One of the problems with allowing families into pubs is that there is often one or more irresponsible and useless parent that allow their offspring to use the pub as a playground. This was the case today when a single child was running around and screaming like a banshee, ruining the visit for those like me seated in that corner of the pub. The staff are stretched enough without having to deal with nonsense like this.
Although there are 10 hand pumps the beer selection was poor with the two GK beers & Broadside doubled up. The presence of London Pride left just Banks's Central Session Room IPA, Wolf Ale and Grainstore Rutland Beast. I went for the Rutland Beast which was first class and good value at £1.99.
Despite the screaming brat I thought this was an above average Spoons but let down by the poor beer choice.

On 3rd September 2015 - rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


Gill Smith left this review about The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon)

Interesting interior in this converted cinema by JDW. Usual standard beers on plus guests from Adnams, Milestone and Saltaire. Good service and clean tables. The lady serving also sounded as though she knew her ales as well as serving them.

On 14th March 2013 - rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]


Please Note: This review is over a year old.


adam bell left this review about The Hippodrome (JD Wetherspoon)

A Lovely conversion of an old theatre, restored very well by Wetherspoon. 8/10

On 31st January 2012 - rating: 8
[User has posted 32 recommendations about 32 pubs]