The Cricketers (JD Wetherspoon), Ipswich

An impressive looking building, conveniently just across the road from Tower Ramparts bus station. Inside there is a central bar, nicely breaking up a series of separate drinking areas, with the main tabled eating area to the rear. Outside there is a fair-sized patio, including a section with artificial grass. Beerwise, I was pleased to see a stout, a porter and an old ale on pump, together with a varied range of bitters as well as the usual stuff. Ciders from the box. No complaints with ale condition; service was patchy but otherwise a slightly above average 'Spoon's.

Although it looks a bit like a public library designed by an Edwardian architect given too much money by the municipal authorities, this one of the more traditional pub-like 'spoons inside (albeit remodelled somewhat with a variety of seating / dining areas around the central servery). Pretty good selection from the 12 handpumps, although my first choice expired during the pour so went for the Wolf Werewolf (£2.15) instead which proved very satisfactory.

Rather busy square Wetherspoons with central bar, kids running around, sadly conventional beer choice but saved by the superior quality and better than average Weherspoons staff.

A decent enough Spoons which, on a Saturday evening, was fairly full but I got served easily enough. One of the better Spoons I have visited.

Although it doesn't much look like it this place was built as a pub by the long gone but unmissed (by me at least) Tolly Cobbold brewery. It's a largish Spoons but split into areas around the more or less island bar. It wasn't all that busy on my midday Thursday visit. I noticed from a menu that the food prices here are slightly cheaper than average. The bar still has twelve hand pumps which on my visit had two available soon (Doom Bore and Woodford Bure Gold). The ten available were the two GK beers, the Belhaven Burns Night beer, Upham Punter, Elland Nettle Thrasher, Adnam's Lighthouse, Cliff Quay Bitter, Nethergate Hair Of The Dog & Red Poll and Woodforde's Nog. I went for the Nettle Thrasher (£2.29) which was in very good nick. This one is GBG 2016 listed and I would go along with that as it's a better than average Spoons.