The Albert and The Lion (JD Wetherspoon), Blackpool

Named after the once famous monologue by now forgotten star of stage and screen Stanley Holloway, it’s a smaller ‘spoons actually on the so called “Golden Mile” not far from the Tower in a gorgeous art deco building, an ex Woolworths according to WhatPub. One square room with a counter running almost the length of the rear wall. You’ve got your two banks of six with Abbot, Ruddles and Doombar, doubled up, the others have some much more interesting beers from Robinsons (I know), Reedley Hallows and Coach House. Quality fairly good. Usual keggy stuff in between. Old photos and a badly laser cut 3D Lion forms part of the decor. All a bit cramped with tables everywhere. Toilets in basement.

Seafront Spoons housed in a lovely Art Deco building (a former Woolies). Oblong interior. Surprisingly nice decor, loved the wall mounted roaring lion. Some nice dado-ing and lincrusta wallpaper ceiling as well. Three guest cask, my Reedly Hallows Mild was good (NBSS 3.5). Better than expected given the location, I assumed this’d be a battered old flea pit and actually it was pretty good – mind you, I was here off-season, I can just imagine what new circle of hell it might be on a hot August evening…