The Packet Station (JD Wetherspoon), Falmouth

Neatly done JDW (a 2003 opener but suspect it’s had a refit since then) over a number of discrete areas, an upstairs bar and an (unexplored) rooftop garden. Only one guest cask, apparently Burton Bridge Stairway according to the app (NBSS 3) though I’m not sure I got what I ordered. Necking it in order to get to the station for my train, I decided not to push the issue. In general Spoons have upped their game since COVID but I found this one to be a bit lacklustre given the single questionable guest cask – I guess they can easily get away with serving the one-drop tourists for 9 months of the year.

Falmouth's branch of Wetherspoon's has re-opened and now features a rooftop garden. Apart from a visit to the toilets, we stuck to the ground floor bar. The central staircase gives the pub the feel of an ocean liner. There is also a separate bar on the first floor. Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best are the regular ales. Guests were Moorhouse's Totemic, Exmoor Upside Brown & Hook Norton Merula Stout. Boxed ciders were all varieties of Healey's Flattler - Peach, Pear, Original & Strawberry & Lime. The usual history signage found in branches of 'spoon's was apparent. We sat in a corner with details of the local mailcoach which departed regularly from the Packet Station (port for overseas mail transfer) to London, including the story of how one of the mailcoach's horses was once attacked by a lion which had escaped from a menagerie. You can learn all sorts on a pub crawl!

I actually quite liked this Wetherspoons, cosy interior with quiet corners for a pint, plus the staff were friendly and helpful. Real ale choice underwhelming though, the usuals plus a Ringwood beer and Coach House Cheshire Oak all the way from… Cheshire. Can’t really complain at £2 a pint though.