The Counting House (JD Wetherspoon), Congleton

The Counting House is a Wetherspoons housed in an impressive Harry Potter like building. The inside is less interesting with a bar counter up the right that faces some high tables up the centre. Raised seating is found front and rear left. A bit more interesting is seating in the old central vault of this converted bank. The bar counter supports two banks of six hand pumps that were drawing the usual three plus Titanic’s Plum Porter and MBH Asylum. The service was efficient, but there are better pubs in the area.

Visited in March but just realised I didn't leave a review. The clue is in the name and this Spoons used to be a bank, and completely by chance I ended up sitting in what would have been the old vault. Three guest ales plus Black Dragon cider at the time of my visit - guest ales priced at £2.10 a pint. Gents are upstairs and could do with a bit of freshening up - the urinals were leaking and the tiles were a bit dated, though everything was functional enough. A very grand building from the outside and an interesting interior. No complaints with the ale I had.

Rather gloomy 'spoons housed in a baronial-style former bank, although there are such a range of seating / dining areas on slightly different levels (including one in the former vault), parts may also extend into recent rear extensions. However, the real ale selection from the two banks of five handpumps was pretty good, with a pair from Moorhouses, Beartown Polar Eclipse (£2.15), Clipaty Hop from Coach House plus the usual trio and a cider.

As the name suggests this is a bank conversion. It's an open plan room with the bar area on the right and separated into different areas. It was quite busy on my Saturday midday visit. Although there are twelve hand pumps the beer choice was poor. There were three available soon and the JDW Trio Of Doom doubled up leaving just three dull mainstream International festival ales from the major regional brewers. I went for the Banks's Brazilian Burton Pale (£2.05 festival price) which was in good condition. This could be a decent Spoons if they could sort the beer out a bit better.