The Moon under Water (JD Wetherspoon), Milton Keynes

A modern, purpose built Wetherspoon’s pub located within the Xscape centre. Curves seem to be the central theme of the pub, with everything from the building itself, the bar, plates on the ceiling, rails on a partition and even some of the tables being curved to some degree or another. Decor wise it’s all a bit of a mismatch, with at least four different hues of paint being used – Turquoise, Pale Blue, Mustard and Maroon. Most of the flooring is carpet, although there are some big areas of wooden flooring as well. One area at the rear is up a couple of steps and partitioned off to break up the space a little, and the front area has full floor to ceiling windows looking out on to the patio, as well as “portholes” painted on to the walls and wood panelling on the lower part of the walls giving a slightly nautical feel. Besides the usual tables and chairs, there was also a leather sofa or two. There was a bank of fruit machines opposite the bar, and a few plasma’s showing a news channel, although there was no sound. Bar staff seemed friendly enough, if a little dopey. The barmaid who took my food order seemed to have no idea what a Chicken Bhuna was, and I had to spell it twice. Then I flummoxed her completely by giving her £10.59 for a £5.59 bill. Overall though, this isn’t too bad a place, although obviously it doesn’t have the architectural interest of some of the company’s other outlets. But being in Milton Keynes, it would be somewhat out of place if it did have any architectural significance. Good choice of beers on tap, although they are currently running a beer festival, so I don’t know what the usual choice is like. On this occasion besides the usual Abbott Ale and Ruddles Best, there was Whitstable Bay Organic Ale from Shepherd Neame, Bateman’s XB, Hook Norton Flagship, Titanic Fit Out, Everard’s Whakatu, Brain’s Dark and Thwaites Daniel’s Hammer. Ciders were also well represented with Strongbow and Thatcher’s Gold being joined by Two Trees Perry and Black Dragon, both from Gwynt y Ddraig and Weston’s Twist with ginger.

Official page of The Moon Under Water - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Official page of The Moon Under Water - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

A dark and dingy concrete Wetherspoon's in a concrete jungle.Full of spives and banjo players.Give it a wide berth.