The Mossy Well (JD Wetherspoon), Muswell Hill, N10

This is a massive new-build Wetherspoons pub on a prominent junction in the centre of Muswell Hill. You enter via a nice looking front patio space that looks out towards the aforementioned junction, emerging into the very modern looking front bar area. The flooring here is a mix of stone and bare floorboards and there are loads of good seating options available in a bright space that benefits from the large front windows that let plenty of light in. The servery is along the right hand wall and has a stone bar counter with a hefty pewter top. Plenty of high tables and stools fill the sizable area opposite, whilst over on the left hand side of the room, a recessed seating area looked very comfortable with lounge bar-style furniture in a space that seemed to afford more privacy that the rest of the pub. Steps take you down into the pub’s mid-section where a few unsightly pillars break up a carpeted space full of traditional pub furniture, wood panelled walls and old portraits. Passing a staircase, you find a couple more seating areas – the first has an Antic-style mismatch of chairs and a few comfy banquettes opposite the open kitchen, but is very much under the aforementioned staircase, making some tables feel a bit like you’re drinking in a broom cupboard. The other area is a bare boarded space with basic tables and chairs in a rear section that has been made to look a bit like a conservatory, with lots of windows, bright paintings and plenty of potted plants. From here you can head out to the rear terrace and courtyard garden, although it was roped off on my visit, so I didn’t get to explore. Upstairs there is a mezzanine seating area with a good deal more seating overlooking the main bar area. The staff here were incredibly slow, even by Wetherspoons’ standards, but their manager was super-proactive, serving several people at once and probably taking more money than the rest of his team combined. He served me a pint of Purity Saddle Black IPA – one of seven guest ales available alongside four ‘Spoons regulars – which was in great shape, and the food I had here was as swift and reliable as always. I think this is a pretty good ‘Spoons with plenty of different areas to suit different types of customer. I particularly liked the contrast of modern and traditional and though both of these styles worked well within the same pub. I’d be very happy if this was my local ‘Spoons and hope some of their other new-build ventures work out as well as this one.

The Mossy Well is a nice looking Spoons that is situated at the top of Muswell Hill. Once inside this is a very large Spoons with different areas on different levels,the main bar area is a long oblong shaped room with the bar to the front left,this room runs to the rear,the seating is very different to any of the many Spoons i have been in,but there is some bench seating and a few normal tables and chairs. The rear area is down steps,plus there is an upstairs area to the front,all very complicated in trying to describe. I had a drink of Trumans Zephyr which went down very well,the other beers noted were Prescott Grand Prix plus Spoons regulars Doom Bar and Abbot,there were more guest beers on i failed to note due to the pub being very busy. I thought this was a decent Spoons and better than a lot i have been in. Pub visited 4/8/2016