The Robert Pocock (JD Wetherspoon), Gravesend

A mid size Spoons with additional upstairs seating. Obviously the usual suspects were on display plus three guests of Cairngorm Nessie's Monster Mash, Oakham JHB and Wimbledon Norma. The experience did nothing to improve my view of Spoons in general.

This is a relatively small High Street branch of the Wetherspoons chain, occupying that beloved ‘Spoons type of premises - the former furniture store. You enter into the front seating and bar area with the typical mix of high tables and stools in the space opposite the servery and a range of comfier options through the centre and around the perimeter, including in a couple of recessed spaces to the left, which are hidden behind some quite significant sections of partitioning wall, affording them a degree of privacy you don’t normally associate with a Wetherspoons layout. The servery is surprisingly short and has the usual polished stone counter, plain dark wood counter front and mirrored bar back. Some steps at the rear of this room lead you down into what is perhaps a more appealing rear room, which also has some screened-off spaces to the left as well as plenty of standard tables and chairs in what is a decent open plan area. A staircase takes you up to a mezzanine upper level with a big, central octagonal cutaway that looks down into the rear room below. More standard seating lines the perimeter and there are some impressive bits of stained glass on one of the walls which is a real eye-catcher and perhaps the pub’s stand-out feature. The place seemed to still be doing a reasonable late evening trade, with punters still turning up as closing time approached, which helped the place not feel too empty and flat. The big drawback of visiting ‘Spoons at present is that many haven’t brought back their guest ale ranges yet, and so it proved here. Just three ‘Spoons regular ales – Sharps Doom Bar, Greene King Abbot Ale and Ruddles – were available to choose from, which is a pretty tough selection to make. I thought I’d brave the Doom Bar, but it was pretty grim, despite being kept in pretty good condition. I probably should’ve had a Brewdog or some other craft beer instead. The staff all seemed to be really angry for some reason, but in keeping with every pub I went to in Gravesend, they were very friendly when actually serving someone. There felt like there was a bit of potential in this place and I think had I visited when they had some guest ales on, I could’ve been quite happy here. It’s not like there’s anything here that you haven’t seen in hundreds of ‘Spoons up and down the country, but it had a few decent seating areas, friendly enough service and a good atmosphere, so I’d probably give it another go once things have fully returned to normal.

Official site of The Robert Pocock (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Robert Pocock (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

GREAT STAFF, ALWAYS

Noisy, loud, brash but good microwave food and cheapest beer around. You know what you are getting and to be honest I like it. Breakfast to die for, hide in a booth and pretend you are somewhere else....

This pub is named after a bloke who ages ago published books for children including one called Reading Made Easy. Why write a book about that? Just go to Paddington and get on almost any train or if you're not in a hurry go to one of the higher numbered platforms at Waterloo This one is apparently a converted bed shop dating from summer 1998. At around 10:45 on a Friday morning it was busy with a fair contingent of the Spoons daytime brigade. There are two main areas the front one has the bar on the right and mostly tall tables while the rear area down some steps is quieter and has just lower tables and chairs for eating. On the bar there were two banks of six pumps with the 2 GK Beers and Adnam's Broadside. Also were Long Man Copper Hop and Otter Bright available soon, Westerham British Bulldog, Dark Star Hophead, Caledonian Nogne O Asian Pale Ale, Marston's Old Empire, Wold Top Wold Gold, Hobgoblin and a cider. I went for the Hophead which was in pretty good nick but had a slight haze but I did spot a pint nearby that wasn't all that clear and one that was.. This is probably a slightly above average Spoons. It is GBG 2015 listed, I'm not sure on the basis of this single visit if that is justified. As the school reports would say "could do better".

The Robert Pocock was busy with diners taking advantage of the cheap Wetherspoon’s fare during my Friday afternoon visit. The interior consists of a bar and seating area, another seating area down a few steps and some balcony seating upstairs where the toilets are located. There is also a disabled toilet opposite the bar where some snugs are located. Unsurprisingly there is a plasma screen that was showing muted rolling news. Standard draught is available and I counted twelve hand pumps that were drawing a mix of JDW regulars and guests. There are extended opening hours until midnight except for Fridays and Saturdays when it is 1am. This place is pretty much what I would expect from a Spoons, nothing special but handy to know of.