The Bear & Ragged Staff (JD Wetherspoon), Bedworth

Last Wednesday was my first ever visit to the town of Bedworth and my first impressions were that it was a bit of a dump. This Wetherspoon's branch appeared to be the only unit open on the town's main street, a pedestrianised affair that was somewhat run down. Clientele in here were mainly post-work drinkers. They were a fairly rowdy bunch, not afraid to use some very colourful language. Young bar staff probably see some interesting comings and goings here The usual Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar were on. Guests were Wychwood Hobgoblin, Burton Bridge Top Dog Stout & Byatt's Carpe Cerevisi. The cider was Weston's Old Rosie. At £2.10 a pint, it was good value for money. Probably the best (in fact the only) real ale pub in this town. It's the sort of place where a Wetherspoon's is a godsend.

Quite a small Spoons with a fairly dull ale choice but that could be down to the current Covid situation. I went for a pint of Wadworth's 6X which was OK.

You know that you are still in Warwickshire with a heritage name like this, but the building housing this 'spoons (like much else in the centre of town) is hardly historic... However, the furniture and decor is quite light (and so it needs to be with the low ceiling and window space limited to the front of the elongated interior), and for once the pre-Christmas fairy lights above the counter are actually helpful in shedding a little more light. A fully duplicated selection from two banks of five handpumps, with the original version of Spitfire (£2.19) being the least dull offering.

This is a smaller Spoons, unsurprising as Bedworth doesn't seem to be a very large place. It is a dull square room with the bar on the left as you enter. I missed the dart board mentioned but that doens't mean it isn't there! The pine furniture also mentioned below is actually a bit better quality than older outlets. It was quiet on my Friday morning visit. There are still two sets of five hand pumps but the choice was the worst I've seen for quite some time with one unused, the two GK beers doubled up, Doom Bore, London Pride, Adnam's Broadside the White Horse Xmas beer (visit was Jan 29th) and Well's Bombardier. I was reduced to drinking Abbot (£2.45) which was well kept but I quickly took stock and headed for a train back to Nuneaton an hour earlier than planned.