The Square Sail (Lloyds No 1 Bar), Lincoln

Branch of Wetherspoon's in a popular location overlooking Brayford Pool. Late on a Saturday evening, it was a typical late night Wetherspoon's crowd - youngsters struggling to get past the bouncer on the door and then ordering large pitchers and a few older folk who had stayed in well after their bedtimes. The young girls weren't wearing too much on a warm summer's evening and one young guy walked in with a blow-up doll, to set the picture. Inside, there is a spacious ground floor room, with a popular mezanine level overlooking the water. Toilets are accessed from the mezanine too. The usual Wetherspoon's ales were on - Sharp's Doom Bar, Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best. Guest ales were Mauldon's Black Adder & Saltaire Cascade. Ciders were Weston's Old Rosie & Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon. A better branch of Wetherspoon's that I was expecting, but I prefer the Ritz.

The Square Sail is a high ceilinged open plan bar with a mezzanine at the front and a long bar up the right-hand wall. Standard and premium keg was available alongside two banks of three hand pumps. These were drawing Mauldons Brewery’s Black Adder, East London Brewing’s Cowcatcher, Theakston’s Crowning Glory, GK Abbot Ale, Ruddles and Sharp’s Doom Bar. Out the front are lots of tables with plastic faux-iron seats. Every table was heaped with empties, just laziness from the staff. I imagine it’s nice people watching out the front early in the day before the empties have stacked up, but there are far better pubs a stone’s throw from here so I don’t plan on returning.

A bland modern Spoon's in a newish waterside development, which would have had some great views if someone hadn't planted Wagamamas in the way. There is one large room downstairs, a smaller area upstairs and some tables out on the quayside. Finally getting served after being ignored by the management team (who were playing with the fridges), I found that the food range was reduced to cold/microwaved items only, and the draught ales were just Ruddles and Elgoods Patron Saint. The latter was quite drinkable, but still I think the worst beer range I have ever encountered in a JDW. Not one of their best by any means.

Official site of The Square Sail (Lloyds No1) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Square Sail (Lloyds No1) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Rather characterless Lloyds No 1 Bar in the Brayford Pool entertainment complex, with a mezzanine at the front but just cavernous at the back. Modern furniture and decor. Five real ales from the two banks of three handpumps, but at least the Ruddle's and Abbot were supplemented by Milestone Loxley Ale, Elgood's Hickathrift and Daleside Santa's Progress (£1.15, half).

This is a Lloyds No. 1 that overlooks a lake and is part of a new Odeon complex that I assume was built in 2006 when this one opened. Obviously it's modern and is a large high ceilinged room and has exposed ventilation ducts. I didn't investigate upstairs. The lighting rig and glitter ball hanging from the ceiling at the far end provide a clue to the nightmare that it transforms into after 21:00. On my midday visit it seemed to have mostly people in to eat. The bar only has six hand pumps which on my visit had the two GK beers, Doom Bore and three festival ales from a week ago. I went for the Oakham Owl and Pussycat (£2.25) which was in very good nick. It's OK for a Lloyds but the Ritz is a much better option.