Yr Hen Orsaf (JD Wetherspoon), Aberystwyth

Looks quite impressive whether one is arriving or leaving by train as this 'L'-shaped pub has been converted from most of the Station Chambers buildings. The various seating / dining areas inside are not that extensive, but a good number of additional tables are available in the 'beer garden' covered by the concourse canopy. Fairly routine selection of real ales from the two banks of five handpumps, with local beers notable by their absence, but my pint of Exeter Old Bitter came in at just £1.39 with a 'Monday Club' saving.

The fundamental problem with this Spoons is that for the size of the place the serving area is quite small. This means they seem to only have two tills, hence the queues. This is exacerbated by the usual Spoons niggles of inadequate staffing levels and dithering customers. I didn't think the staff were any worse than other places. The Spoons model of selling cheap meals and coffees as well as drinks (I bet those cocktails take ages to prepare) is bad news in here. I waited briefly to get served on my arrival in Aber and gave up as the entire train seemed to debunk into here. On my return at around 15:00 it was not as busy so I ordered a beer and sat in the glass encased area at the end of the platform where I could keep an eye on the train I was soon to get. On the bar there were ten pumps with the two GK beers doubled up and one with Doom Bore. The remaining five had Exe Valley Exeter Old Bitter, Bluestone (Wales) Summer Rocks, Banks's Young Henry, Purple Moose Dark Side of the Moose and Archer's (Evan Evans) WGV. I went for the Purple Moose (£2.05) which was in reasonable nick. The beer prices are on a par with the cheapest London suburb Spoons. There are worse Spoons than this one despite the poor service. If they were to pack staff behind the bar they would just be tripping over themselves. I dread to think what it must be like on a Friday or Saturday night if the students do spend time here.

Yr Hen Orsaf page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk

Yr Hen Orsaf page on the JD Wetherspoon website - www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk