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The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon), Lancaster
Lancaster
LA1 1RQ
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6½ of 10) see review guidelines
Pub SignMan left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a good sized, town centre branch of Wetherspoons, split across two levels and accessible from the front and via a rear entrance down a rather uninviting back alley. I entered via the main, Upper Spring Garden Street entrance, into a fairly compact, carpeted room with the servery over in the rear right corner. The bar has a plain, wood panenelled counter front with an unusual light box feature beneath the counter top and a broad bar back due to the deep serving space behind the counter, behind which there is plenty of dark wood shelving and fridges. High tables and stools run through much of this upper level, with regular tables and chairs over to the left. The room has a high ceiling with concrete beams running across it and a few slot machines stand on either side, whilst TV screens were showing muted news coverage. Stairs lead down to a similarly compact lower bar area, which is full of regular tables and chairs and has its own section of servery.
When I first visited, there were three 'Spoons regular ales and three guests on the handpulls, although an extra guest had appeared when I popped in a couple of days later. On my initial visit, I tried Coach House Old Porter, which was a fine beer in pretty good shape, whilst on my return, I sampled another guest which I forgot to note down, but it was in great nick. I also ate here and found the staff friendly and prompt with their service and the food the usual reliable, unspectacular fayre.
Despite the split level layout this place felt small and cramped, with limited seating available once a bit of a crowd has built up. Whilst the beer seemed to be in good condition and the service was friendly, the pub itself is a bit underwhelming, making it a worthy, if rather uninspired, addition to a crawl around the city centre.
Date of visit - 14th January 2024
On 7th April 2024
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon)
Split-level 'spoons with two separate side-street entrances. Irregular in layout, but all the usual furniture and decor. Incomplete and partly duplicated selection from the two banks of five handpumps, but at least there were a pair of Ennerdale beers - Blonde and Wild (excellent value at £1.85) - available on this revisit.
On 10th October 2020
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8117 recommendations about 8117 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Brainy Pool left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon)
though nothing special I quite like this Spoons and it's worth a quick visit if you're in Lancs. The ale is very well priced for Lancaster and usually has at least something of interest. It's best avoided on a Friday/Saturday night though when the masses of students descend to block the bar with their complex drink orders. The other Spoons used to be the place for most of the 'circuit' drinkers but since it closed this one has become a bit uncomfortably busy at times.
On 18th January 2019
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1058 recommendations about 1023 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Al Bundy left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon)
A fairly standard Wethers on two levels. The front (upper) level houses the bar and the rear (lower) level leads to a small outside patio. 10 handpulls but once you took away the Wethers Three I was left with a fairly mundane selection. Saying that the Beartown Creme Bearlee was delightful.
On 19th April 2018
- rating: 6
[User has posted 3487 recommendations about 3390 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
custodian 42 left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon)
Not a bad Spoons with the semi circular bar to the right as you enter. Usual suspects on hand pumps to the right, guest ales to the left that I could not see properly. Bar downstairs at the back which I used as the other area was quite full.
On 15th July 2017
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1693 recommendations about 1691 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (JD Wetherspoon)
I turned up here early on a Friday evening, probably the worst possible time to visit a Spoons or any other pub. It was very busy and the staff were under pressure to keep things going.
Superficially it seems like a small Spoons until you see the large lower area down some steps to the left. The bar is in the upper area so I ignored the downstairs room.
The bar has two sets of five hand pumps and it was too busy to note everything but on top of the usual suspects and cider there was Lytham IPA & Harvest Gold and Moorhouse Pendle Porter. I went for the Lytham IPA (£1.95) and managed to find a seat. It was in good nick.
It's hard to judge any pub at a peak time but this seemed to be a fair Spoons with the plus point of still selling beer at under two quid a pint.
On 30th November 2015
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
ROB Camra left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (J D Wetherspoon)
An unusual split level JDW, but sadly without much character once you get inside. When you enter from Spring Garden Street there is a smallish area and the bar, which had 10 ales available on our 2 visits. Down some fairly steep steps is a larger room which is all dining tables and chairs. We called in for one at about 3 and another one at about 11 at the start & end of a crawl round Lancaster. Both pints I had were in very good condition and there was a decent range of guests available. We also called in for breakfast the following morning and had the most efficient breakfast service I've had in any JDW anywhere. The management and the staff are obviously on the ball at this JDW. Well done guys.
On 8th June 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3224 recommendations about 3135 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Real Ale Ray left this review about The Sir Richard Owen (J D Wetherspoon)
Accessible from both Spring Garden St and Common Garden St. We took the Spring St entrance, which was the upper level in this Spoons. The lower lounge area is found from a staircase near the bar or disabled lift, which also had a stove. We stayed upstairs and were entertained by the conversations from the four locals on the next table. They were also getting through the Tuborg like no tomorrow, even though it was only 10.30am. Ten handpumps and 1 cider, we went for the Kirby Lonsdale Monumental.
On 23rd February 2014
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3382 recommendations about 3381 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Sir Richard Owen
Located very handily next to the Travelodge, this was my default retreat for two sets of breakfast last week and I must say I was quite impressed with the overall service. The pub has been kept in good order and therefore feels a little less generic as elsewhere large parts of the JDW estate sink into disrepair. Circumstances kept me off the ale but the bottomless filter coffee took a hammering - Tim Martin doing his bit for temperance?
December 2011
Fairly generic two-level JDW. Five guest pumps on at the bar (located on the upper level) with one off. My Coniston Bluebird was decent and the lass who served me was on the ball. There’s a fairly attractive bar area and is seemingly a rather more genteel Spoons than average – its odd location (tucked away down a side street just off the main drag) may have something to do with it? In a city replete with fine pubs, this one may not be at the top of the crawl list but makes for a decent reserve. Rating 6
On 2nd December 2013
- rating: 7
[User has posted 5094 recommendations about 5077 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
William Purnell left this review about The Sir Richard Owen
A JD Wetherspoon establishment
On 18th October 2009
- no rating submitted
[User has posted 218 recommendations about 205 pubs]