The Regal (JD Wetherspoon), Gloucester

Located in the heart of Gloucester’s shopping area facing on to a pedestrianised square, this is quite clearly a cinema conversion going on both the appearance as well as the name. It actually has something of an Art Deco look to it, even though it was not built until the 1950’s according to a short history of the building displayed inside. Internally, the bulk of the pub is down a few steps to a subterranean level, with smaller street level areas at either end. The first of these was a reasonable size and was quite elegant in some ways with a wooden bookshelf covering the entire wall off to the left. Once down in to the lower level it opened out somewhat, although the ceiling here was quite low before you get to a quite impressive double height area at the far end. This was presumably the main auditorium at one time, with the original screen being replaced with a large arched window looking out on to the decked patio area. The ceiling here was quite ornate with large, recessed sections set in to it which were clad with wood panelling. Various cinematic artefacts were dotted around including a number of model biplanes, a couple of golden statuettes and a giant gorilla, along with a New York skyline filling the entire wall of the balcony that overlooked the auditorium. A number of old photographs and notes about Gloucester related facts were on the walls, and I learnt that the original Humpty Dumpty was in fact a “siege machine” developed during the siege of Gloucester in 1643. A projector screen was up in one corner but this was not in use on my visit. Despite two banks of six hand pumps on the bar, the majority were doubled up leaving Doom Bar, Abbot Ale, Ruddles Best, Ubu Purity, Loddon Forbury Lion, Goffs Black Knight and Salopian Panacea as the available choice. Ciders meanwhile were Thatcher’s Gold, Thatcher’s Haze, Magners, Strongbow, Strongbow Dark Fruit and Stowford Press. Overall, this was somewhat better than I had expected given it’s location, and I’d be happy to pop in again if passing.

Wetherspoons cinema conversion and they've done a decent job on this one. Enter down some steps to the sunken level bar area. Usually it's gloomy in these situations but at the rear of the pub is floor-to-ceiling plate glass which lets in a huge amount of light that penetrates through the pub. In this rear section is a raised seating area, with two outsized Oscars to greet you on either side. When sat here you can see that in the ceiling recess they have recreated the New York skyline replete with jumbo King Kong, who on my visit was dressed in an England kit. 12 pumps but every ale was doubled up, leaving just the three genuine guests. I went for the Truman's Swift for a quid which wasn't the best and had a lot of yeast babies in the bottom of the glass; whether that's the fault of the brewer or pub was hard to know. Anyway it’s a fair Spoons and worth a visit for King Kong.

According to What Pub this was recently converted to a Lloyds. I saw no sign of this but it was so busy I didn't get much of a look round. This cinema conversion has been more than well described below. The beer choice from the 12 hand pumps was a bit disappointing with the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up, two ciders, Moles Gold, Green Jack Lurcher Stout and two festival ales. I went for the Lurcher Stout (£2.39) which was in good nick. This isn't a bad Spoons but not one of their best.