The Square Peg (JD Wetherspoon), Birmingham

The Square Peg is a very long Wetherspoons with steps up to the entrance that opens to a small beer fridge stuffed with cans on the wall opposite. To the right of this entrance is a long carpeted open plan seating area where every table was being used by an older crowd, most of whom were dining. To the left of the entrance is a very long curved edge serving counter that faces a single row of high tables before a row of normal tables that run across the front windows where there’re views of local crack heads milling about in between people waiting for buses. One of the locals was crashed out on the entrance steps with people just stepping around him like it was normal. The left-hand side of the pub opens out with a mix of open plan seating that was overlook by a projector screen that was airing Cheltenham horse racing. Available from the bar were the usual three cask options alongside Black Hole Brewery’s Aleien Invasion and Asteroid, alongside lots of beer festival options, although they were doubled and the end bank of hand pumps were clipped but not available, which I also found was the case in another Spoons I recently visited. This pub’s location means that it’s always going to be busy, so it’s a good spot to sit and people watch, but there are more interesting pubs in the area so I don’t plan on revisiting, although I will mention that the barmaid that served me was very friendly.

Biggest bar in Birmingham - all 82 feet of it - manned by the least number of staff imaginable. 2. On a Saturday. A long queue, getting a bit fractious. As a former time and motion man (google it), I questioned the logic of sending the staff off a long trip for every coffee mug requested. £2.57 for a nice brummie stout.

One of the better ‘Spoons I’ve visited recently. Clean, friendly, with efficient welcoming staff. Ales on were Ruddles, Abbott and Doombar (of course) plus Silhill’s Blonde Star, Oakham’s JHB and three from HB: Happy as Larry, Fireside Ale and Masterpiece. Well worth a visit and a good one for a crawl despite being a bit apart from the other City centre pubs.

Once you managed to work out which entrances are actually unlocked and available, you enter to a long narrow front-facing Spoons in cream and maroon shades with a comfy late 90’s JDW feel. A huge long bar with more pumps than I could count with a good selection available. My Sneck Lifter was a bit warm and ‘long pull’ (NBSS 2.5). Good staff though and an air of cleanliness and order. Decided to partake of the manager’s special - haggis, neapes & tatties with whisky sauce - which came out looking like the aftermath of the norovirus I suffered a few years ago but tasted rather nice. Overall it’s a decent Spoons but bear in mind that the local junkies and scumbags seem to enjoy congregating nearby so keep an eye out as you enter and exit.

Large Spoon's with a very long bar. Usually a decent choice of beers on. It can get very busy and getting served can depend on where you stand. Worth calling in for one.