The Panniers (JD Wetherspoon), Barnstaple

Pub SignMan left this review about The Panniers (JD Wetherspoon)

This is a good sized branch of Wetherspoons, located a short way from the top end of the eponymous market, in what feels like a large old shop unit or two. You enter through a front seating space to reach the main bar area with the servery down the right-hand wall and plenty of high tables and stools in the space opposite. The bar has a fairly long counter with the usual polished stone top and mirrored bar back. Steps lead up to the rear and side for two different seating areas. The rear space felt like the family area, although there were no kids apparent when we visited, whilst the left side was a darker, cosier area with a row of banquette booths along the end wall and plenty of tables and chairs elsewhere, all beneath local history boards and a selection of random pictures on the walls. From here, you can reach a carpeted front seating area, totally separate from the bar area, with a long banquette and many more tables and chairs under pictures of the Pannier Market. It looked like there might have been a small courtyard garden area out the back, but I didn't fully explore.
On the bar, there were the usual three regular ales alongside four guests from the upcoming Wetherspoons beer festival range. I tried the Orkney Boulder Beach, which was in good shape and another solid beer from this underrated brewery. The staff seemed like a very efficient and hard working bunch, although the place was quite quiet on a Monday lunchtime.
I couldn't find too much here of interest, although the rear left space looked quite comfy and the separate front left area was a nice retreat from the usual Spoons clientele. It's a solid option for this town, but nothing you won't have seem many times before.

Date of visit - 4th March 2024

On 4^th August 2024 - rating: 6
[User has posted 3350 recommendations about 3350 pubs]