The Leaping Salmon, Berwick-Upon-Tweed

Just off the bridge, this former Spoons looks quite upmarket from the outside but inside is essentially what JDW left behind but now more run-down. Staple-shaped with muted red and grey colours, there’s a pool table as well as a sports TV at every table in the conservatory, so you can guess what kind of punter it attracts. Three cask; GK Abbot, Doom Bar and a dire Redcastle Crusader (NBSS 1.5). Deciding after the first two sips that I’d seen enough, I dumped it and departed. What I’d have given for this still to be a Timbo Tavern! 3.5

Something of a disappointment, with a fuss to get in, a long wait for service and poor beer choice. Its Spoons origins are clear, but it has acquired extras like a pool table and music and feels a bit run down. Having finally got past the rather-officious front of house guy, who seemed to be more intent on stopping people coming in than finding them a space, the bar boasted three handpumps claiming Doom Bar, Abbot and a "Monsters Inc" beer, from where I know not. While queuing for the solitary serving barman (the other being engaged in a ridiculously-long food order) the Abbot was declared run out, and then someone who had purchased the Monsters Inc beer returned it as off, The barman, claiming ignorance in such matters as the taste of beer, summoned another chap who tasted it and agreed it was probably off, apparently tasting of liquorice. Whether this was how it is supposed to taste is anyone's guess, but at any rate we were left with the Doom. This was overly cold and short-measured but otherwise was about as good as it could be. Come back JDW!