The Wyvern Tavern, Swindon

Super chainy feel.... its as if they looked at the JDW blueprint and wondered "how can we improve on that". Instead of 99p pints, they went for about 100 TV screens showing football and (from somewhere in the world on a Sunday night) horse racing. Agree with the Good Beer Guide and they do have a better than average interest in the sale of real ale. Some choice, with a Camra discount offered. Black Knight Porter from Goffs Brewery a bit of a find.

Quite a large establishment in what is a fairly dismal town centre. Staff were friendly and welcoming and the real ale drinker will be presented with 4 or 5 real ales on handpull. The regular ale is Butcombe Original. Guests on this occasion were Ramsbury Gold, Otter Ale & Shakespeare The Tempest. The 5th handpull was occupied by Lilley's Gladiatior cider, with 4 more Lilley's ciders in a fridge behind the bar - Cheeky Pig, Chocolate Apple Cider, Mango Cider & Pineapple Cider. Seating is high tables and stools and there are plenty of TVs to get your dose of the latest sport. It wasn't too busy on our Saturday morning visit. They serve breakfast, but we had already had our fill elsewhere.

At first glance just another shop conversion, but on entering there is actually some architecture, with columns, pillars and plasterwork. A long bar down one side is faced by a range of seating areas, with an upstairs also but not in use at time of visit. There are a few tables on the pavement outside. Draught beers included two from Electric Bear Brewing and Hobgoblin, as well as ciders being available, while the cheery barman volunteered the CAMRA discount. I might have been lucky, and it was a fairly quiet time, but all in all a pleasant drinking experience showing what good management and enthusiastic staff can do.

Wetherspoons-like, but with background music & less beer choice, though there is local beer and quality is better than at the Savoy.