Last Post (JD Wetherspoon), Southend-On-Sea

Open plan Wetherspoons but almost split into two areas between the 2 streets. There are also 2 separate bars. Weston Road side is larger, set out as standard but light & airy with a conservatory wall opposite the serving bar. The other side is darker with more booth seating. Beer & service seemed good

As would be expected from the name this is a converted Post Office dating from 1994. It is GBG 2014 listed. Inside it's a fairly cavernous place with four banks of three handpumps. On offer were Wadworth's Fat Head's Rocket Man, Old Peculiar, Adnam's Mosaic, Directors, Abbot, Ruddles doubled up, Doom Bore and four ciders. while perusing the choice I overheard one of the punters boasting that he was barred for life from The Elms (a Spoons in Leigh-on-Sea) and then he suggested I might try the Directors. I ignored this terrible advice (for which he should have been barred) and went for the Rocket Man (£2.50) which was in great nick. On leaving I was approached by a woman who asked me if I wanted to go for a coffee in a church hall down the road, she went on to explain it was to do with mental health issues. I declined but spent the rest of the day in a state of total paranoia. Why me?? I quite liked this Spoons but as noted below I could imagine it being horrendous on fine summer days.

I went in here before going too the Borough Hotel. I found it very over crowded when I went in especially for a Mid weekday afternoon it was full of Kids & every Table was full of Dirty Glasses Plates & crocks. I waited at the Bar well over 10 Minuets trying too get served but gave up in the end and walked out. There was a big lack of Staff behind the Bar or in the Pub. I may have Picked a bad day and Staff were off sick or Etc So I will go in next time I'm Passing.

One of the more interesting Wetherspoons housed in,as the name suggests, the old Post Office. I am assuming that as the the pub has entrances in 2 streets, it has been extended thorugh a couple of other buiuldings as well. There are 2 bars, the main bar has a loungey area near the main door with a few bookcases and a bit of a living room feel to it. The main body of the pub in the centre has high ceilings, a few snugs and a predominantly orange colour scheme that is perhaps not as awful as it sounds. An old mail bike sits in the rafters and there are various post office artfacts as well as local historical snippets and a few silent plasma screens dotted about. Down one side is a conservatory section with some ornate ironwork over the doorways. The second bar is smaller but probably more interesting with a large vaulted roof, cosy snugs, dimmer lighting and acres of bookcases giving it the feel of a library. A larger than average selection of guest Ales is available at the main bar whereas the smaller bar tends to stick to the more mainstream Ales. Food service can be a bit slow at peak times although they do advise you when ordering how long you can expect to wait. It can also take some time for tables to be cleared. Unfortunately, Wetherspoons + Southend daytrippers is not usually a good combination so you may need to be prepared in advance for a few uncsavoury characters if you go at peak times.