The Royal Hop Pole (JD Wetherspoon), Tewkesbury

Fine old inn, modernised and extended by Wetherspoon, but the interior retains a good deal of character. Separate rooms can be found on each side of the porticoed entrance, the bar counter centre left with a grand fireplace in the seating area opposite, and more tables further back until you reach the beer garden door. Doubled-up clips for Ruddles, Doom Bar and Abbot on one bank of six handpumps, but a much more appealing selection of Acorn Brewer's Gold, She Sells Sea Shells from Gadds, Loch Lomond Bonnie & Blonde, Bonville Pale and Scallywag from Hop Union, and North Cotswold's Cotswold Best could be found on the other.

Decent looking spoons which was absolutely packed when I called. We were planning to a quick lunch here but every table was occupied (mainly by people drinking coffee!) so we moved on after a quick drink. I will call again when it is quieter!

a busy upmarket Spoons with hotel attached. couldn't be bothered waiting on the crowd of food seekers at the bar so I moved on pretty swiftly. it did have a decent selection of beer if that's all you care about but it was chaotic and food dominated today.