The Roebuck Inn (JD Wetherspoon), Nottingham

This is a large Wetherspoons pub just off the Market Square, named for a pub that previously stood opposite on the site of the Malt Cross Music Hall. A large, attractive lobby area with a curved staircase to one side, leads into the carpeted main bar area, An L shaped servery in the rear left corner, has a vast amount of vertical drinking space around it with most of the seating down the right hand side of the room, partly screened by a series of pillars and sections of wall. The seating extends to the rear right, where some comfier options can be found in a slightly smarter space. A massive skylight provides ample light for such a large room and stairs at the end of the bar allow you to get a better view, taking you up to a nice mezzanine area that looks down over the bar. A ribbon of seating runs around the perimeter and there is a small room to one side with four or five additional tables and some Rothko style large paintings. There is also a terrace area here, effectively allowing you to step outside without leaving the building. A final room can be found back down on the ground floor, to the front left, with a part carpeted, part exposed dark wood floor, lots of standard tables and chairs, large, attractive front windows, numerous big mirrors and a bookcase. I noted two banks of hand pumps with a lot of predominantly local guest ales and only a one or two Spoon's regulars. Unfortunately, I was here for breakfast, served with the usual efficiency and good value, so didn't fancy sampling any of the beers at that time of day. I thought this was a reasonable Spoon's pub, elevated by the pleasant mezzanine area which I would've thought would be the best spot to bag a table. The service was prompt and friendly and the customers seemed to be more respectable than the average Spoon's morning boozing types, making it worth a look, if not a session.

ITS a spoons and a bad one there bad or good none in between

Former warehouses in an area of silk mills, executed in Georgian style and now a Spoon's chain pub/eatery, with patio area. The place consists of a four storey build predominantly in plain brick, with stone lintels and moulded doorway. The interior is on two levels - with a balcony over-looking the usual spoons tables below. It is an irregular shaped interior, with much of the soul of the building cut away. The décor is white, green and brick, with a coffee ceiling and a few mirrors accompany the info boards on the walls and the usual silent TVs showing the news. It felt fairly bare. We came here on a Sunday night simply to get food - a functional decision considering the preponderance of quality pubs in Nottingham. We ate and the food was fine. I am not a big fan of Spoons in general, but I actually started to like the place (in that guilty way - a little like Lemmy admitting to owning a 10" remix of the Birdy Song, by the Tweets). I must have hit this place at the right time - the service was friendly and quick, the clientele were not the great unwashed, but all too human and everything I tried beer-wise was on form. There were several beers on, including the Abbot and Ruddles - I tried Magpie's Hoppily Ever After, Grafton's Lady Ruby and Flipside's Porter. I left with more of a smile than I entered, which troubled me - I have since sought absolution from the local priest.

On the whole not bad for a Wetherspoon's. Has several drinking areas and had a good selection of real ales which were in very good form.

I quite liked this pub and would agree one of the best spoons in central Nottingham. Plenty of different areas and lots of seating even on a Sat eve. Eight ales on handpump on my visit, also enjoyed their burger and chips which was very good. The Flipside Brewery Denomination was excellent. Will call again