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The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon), Llandudno
Llandudno
LL30 2DD
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Blue Scrumpy left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Impressive building both inside and out, but somewhat let down by all of the scaffolding in the pub. However, many of the former theatre's features can still be seen.
My first visit here was on a Friday evening when plenty of the town's youngsters were out in force. I arrived at the front door at the same time as a group of lads. One was told by a bouncer that he had been barred and could not come in. I tried to step around the group only to be blocked entrance by the other bouncer. Luckily, he promptly moved back out of the way when he saw that I clearly wasn't in the same age bracket as the ones who had been refused entry.
Once inside, seating is on different levels. You descend to the main bar area, where most of the seating can be found. Further seating can be found near the entrance, with plenty more in another raised area at the rear.
This is one of those branches of 'spoon's where orderly queues of customers (most of them ordering food and coffees) can often form. On a subsequent visit in the last week, one guy was trying to lead a rebellion against the trend, encouraging everybody to get to the bar!
The usual ales were on - Greene King Abbot, Ruddles Best & Sharp's Doom Bar, alongside a couple of guests. These were Purple Moose Elderflower & Peerless Red Rocks on my first visit. Subsequent ales on Purple Moose Whakahari & Dark Side of the Moose & Coach House Post Horn. Ciders were Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon & Weston's Old Rosie.
This place was seemingly busy at all times of the day, but there are places with better real ale choices nearby.
On 4th June 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2452 recommendations about 2451 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
A splendid JDW theatre conversion, with upper circle, stalls, boxes and ornate celling still in situ. Huge inside laid-out over two distinct levels, the rear being up some steps and that is a great place in which to drink. Sadly my Butcombe Gold was taking on cider notes (NBSS 1.5) which was impressive given the ale shortages in Welsh Spoons at the time. So I didn’t hang around long. With better cellar management this could be a classic Wetherspoon – Timbo needs to kick them up the rear end.
On 5th September 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Graham Coombs left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
A rather wonderful theatre conversion, retaining superb elements of the structure - an architectural gem which makes an excellent backdrop for drinking. 3 sets of pumps, albeit with a few duplicates, gave a pretty good selection of beers also.
On 17th March 2020
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3339 recommendations about 3276 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Delboy 20 left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Very impressive building which was once a theatre. Now a very busy Spoons. 5 guests on when I called including Brewhouse Chestnut Red, Wolf brewery Santa Paws, Rev James and Peerless Knee Buckler IPA. The 2 I tried were fine.
On 1st January 2020
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 1656 recommendations about 1556 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
I had overheard someone in a pub in the Midlands claim that this was the best Spoons they had been to so I was looking forward to this visit. The old theatre is certainly a grand building but that was the only good thing about it. The ten hand pumps had five unused, one available soon, GK Ruddles, Marston's Help For Heroes and GK Abbot doubled up.
At this point I decided to opt for the Curry Club and went for the Banks's Devil's Backbone keg IPA as the included drink. This was OK but the curry was rubbish with poppadoms slightly larger than crisps, a miniscule portion of rice and a bowl of red slop with hardly any chicken in it. The naan and Mango Chutney were OK. It was also more expensive than many Spoons at £7.75. (Food Rant over!). The standard guest ale price here was £2.49.
It gets two points for the building but that's it. As a Spoons it gets a big fat zero.
On 21st April 2016
- rating: 2
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Very impressive Wetherspoon conversion of a substantial theatre, similar to the Opera House in Tunbridge Wells. The bar and main seating area is located in the stalls, with entrances and further seating at both the foyer and stage ends. The two circle levels appear intact, so I imagine that it is still capable of being used for performances with a bit of temporary reconfiguration. A reasonable selection from about ten of 14 handpumps, although quite a few duplicates, including the local Madoc's Ale and Glaslyn (£2.35) from Purple Moose plus two from Brains elsewhere in Wales - SA and Dark.
On 20th September 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Certainly one of the best Wetherspoons but you can get the usual problems associated with them i.e shoddy service and messy tables.
On 20th January 2015
- rating: 9
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Steve of N21 left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Fantastic building well described by previous reviewers and I have to congratulate Tim on a fine conversion of a piece of period architecture. I particularly liked the cardboard cut outs of gentry in the boxes and the way that a lot of the available seating has been kept facing where the original stage would have been.
Unfortunately I hit it on a poor beer weekend and there was no regional ales available and the most interesting guest alongside the usual house ales was Ringwood’s 49er , which although solid enough , is not worth coming all this way for.
Would definitely visit again though, just to sit in the ground area and stare up at the décor…
On 23rd July 2013
- rating: 6
[User has posted 2110 recommendations about 1992 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
peter ashworth left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Cannot add much to Rob and Malden Man's detailed reviews,and agree it is a supurb conversion with a good service and a fine range of casks.I entered from the rear of the building and my first thoughts were of The Winter Gardens at Harrogate although this is on a much grander scale.
Certainly worth a visit
On 9th April 2013
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 2318 recommendations about 2275 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Palladium (JD Wetherspoon)
Another excellent conversion by JDW from the Palladium theatre. As you enter at the front there are quite a few steps down into what I assume was once the stalls. There's a similarly raised area at the rear. The whole place is very impressive and beautifully restored. There were 3 guests alongside the usual JDW suspects and the two pints I had were both in excellent condition. Friendly, efficient bar staff and when we ordered food this was also quickly and efficiently delivered. I think the management have this place sorted. Well done guys. A must visit when in Llandudno.
On 15th October 2012
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3223 recommendations about 3134 pubs]