The Moon Under Water (JD Wetherspoon), Cheltenham

A fleeting visit due to time ticking down on the train departure. A fairly simple (and scruffy) JDW though the trussed roof is of passing interest. Oddly dark at the front of the pub, where we found what might have been the only spare table as it was heaving – so my Spoons shares continue to look like a good purchase. Necked a swift half of Titanic Plum Porter (NBSS 3). GBG’23 listed.

Fairly old school ‘spoons, an ex Lloyds, the front is emblazoned “A JD Wetherspoons Freehouse”. Inside the usual furnishing mix of high and low tables in now scruffy dark wood. A long counter down the left with a five-four-five line up of casks with T-bars interspersed. The behind the counter fridges have some homely wooden signs. Other than a random mix of Ruddles, Abbott and Doombar there were a couple from North Cotswold, Portobello and a Jaipur spread over the pumps. The place has an hourglass shape, being wide at the front, narrowing then ballooning out into an area of low tables with side booths. The ceiling is odd being low at the front then what could be a higher modern extension with visible trusses then low again at the rear and looking older. There are some odd but interesting metal sculptures in the ceiling. All on one floor so it has rear toilets which are CCTV monitored. The staff aren’t bad either.

Large open plan spoons. My late night visit probably caught it at it's best when quiet.

This JDW is housed in what is basically a large shed, something with which I don't really see anything wrong. It's wider at the front with the bar in the middle on the left and a narrower slightly raised area at the rear leading to a patio / garden. It's a Lloyds No 1 and the Lloyds Disaster Area is just in front of the raised rear with a drop down screen which was not in use, lights and an Idiot Booth. The long bar has two sets of five hand pumps with four in the middle badged with ciders. Beers on were the JDW Trio Of Doom with Abbot doubled, one unused, Purity UBU, Prescott Grand Prix and three festival beers. I went for the Theakston Vanilla Stout (£2.35) which was excellent. For a Lloyds I thought this place was OK.