The Ward Jackson (Lloyds No 1), Hartlepool

Finished our day yesterday in this Wetherspoon bar as we were by now in real need of a drink of real ale after a rather dry day looking round bars with no real ale. The usual taps were on but we enjoyed the Maxim Double Maxim which was only £1.60 a pint, so £1.10 with the voucher. Also enjoyed the cold Devils Backbone DB American IPA from the craft ale they were advertising. The other one, a Brewdog lager was not on. Still the DB was reasonable at £2.99 a pint. Looked to be a good community bar.

This is a spacious Lloyd’s No1 bar in an ugly building on a roundabout close to Hartlepool train station. Comprising one long, open plan room, the pub has a smart carpeted front section under some big windows which allow a lot of light in to an otherwise gloomy room. To the left there is an area set up for diners with standard tables and chairs. Opposite the servery, which runs along the back wall, there are several high tables and stools as well as plenty of space for vertical drinking. The bar, which has a fancy bar back with a the pub’s name in a colour changing inset, curves round towards the back of the pub at its right hand end and here the room extends further back where there are some weird looking two-person seating booths and tables with tub chairs. The place has a modern look typical of the Lloyds chain and the drinking barn feel of the place is eased slightly by a number of large pillars running through the pub, which break up the space and sight lines effectively. Disappointment at the bar, with a paltry three ales available – Ruddles Best, Abbot Ale and Black Paw Paw’s Gold. It was a bit of a no brainer to go for the Paw’s Gold and I was delighted and slightly shocked to be charged a mere £1.29 for a pint of it. The young barman who served me was very polite and personable although I suspect I’d think favourably of any barman charging me those sorts of prices. I didn’t really warm to this place very much. It felt too big and without any real character, so my overriding memory of the pub will be that of the cheapest pint I’ve found since my student days. Worth a look for a bargain, but the beer choice and general ambiance is sadly lacking.