Foley Arms Hotel (JD Wetherspoon), Malvern

One of the more interesting architectural Wetherspoons. Very decent beer - great condition. Superb beer garden with exceptional views. All round successful visit. Photos at my blog - http://bit.ly/2aAb1Eg

This is an alarmingly posh Spoons! I saw no evidence of the daytime brigade at all. It's safe to say that Great Malvern isn't exactly a down at heel place and this appears to be as much a hotel as a pub. The pub takes up the whole of the bottom floor with the bar on the left end and various seating areas along the length of the building. The Tour De Force however is the paved balcony at the back which provides superb views across the Severn Valley to the Black Country and South West Birmingham hills. I was lucky to visit on a sparkling early June afternoon. The bar has two sets of 5 hand pumps which had the two GK beers, Lymestone Stone Cutter, Wadworth's Golden Perch, Naylor's Chicade, Doom Bore, London Pride, RCH Double Header, Great Newsome Frothingham Best and South Cotswold Shagweaver Available Soon. I went for the Naylor's Chicade which was in good nick and was £2.45 discounted to £2.20 for Cheapskate Monday. This is an unusual Spoons and well worth trying.

Official site of Foley Arms Hotel (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Imposing hotel, now a WetherLodge, with an ornate Italianate façade supplemented by some attractive hanging baskets. Various seating areas in and around the main bar, with the best seats being near the large rear bay windows. Separate Morgan Bar downstairs (closed when I visited). Rear terrace overlooking the town and vale. Eight real ales on handpump, including a decent pint of Milestone Little John (£2.50). Well worth the walk up the hill from Great Malvern station.

Official site of Foley Arms Hotel (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk