The Hope & Champion (JD Wetherspoon), Beaconsfield

Been meaning to come here for years, but this proved a conveniently well-placed stop recently. Reasonably sized bar area, with a bit more seating upstairs and plenty of outdoor tables at both front and back. I found four of the five handpumps being used, with Doom Bar supplemented by Twickenham's naked Ladies and a pair of Rebellion beers from Marlow: IPA and Roasted Nuts. Overall, not bad for what it is.

If we fancy a stop on the M40 we have a selection of pubs we know will do the job, but after a particularly tedious day in London, time was pressing and a very quick one was required. Like others, I was rather surprised, and the terrace to the rear made a nice spot to unwind for twenty minutes or so. Of course, it wasn't 100%. It is, after all, a JDW, and a motorway services: you don't expect an olde Englishe pubbe. But the service was surprisingly cheerful given the aggro service area staff have to put up with; the Knight of the Garter, a snip at £2.49, hazy but drinkable. Only real annoyance was trying to spend a Camra voucher, which caused much fiddling with two tills and was eventually abandoned, my voucher remaining unspent. It is fine for what it is, you wouldn't go out of your way to visit, but if you are stopping the night in the adjacent Ibis you'll be mightily glad it's there.

I was pleasantly surprised, both by the 'Spoons and by the Services generally, which are a cut above the average. The pub is very modern and nicely fitted-out, with a long bar in the busy ground floor room and a quiter upstairs level with some nice 'compartments' overlooking the bustle of the main food court. There are outdoor tables both at the front and rear. Usual Wetherspoons fare with an emphasis on Windsor & Eton beers. Although there was considerable opposition to the thought of a pub in a motorway services, this one makes a pretty good case for having more.