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Disappointment of the week with Gann
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Reviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Just a quick pint, then I'm off left this review about The Market Bar
Large modern bar / restaurant on two levels, formerly a Lloyds No 1 and probably little changed apart from the re-branding following its sale in 2016. A year after my first visit I not only found that it still does real ale but also had a really good selection of six Scottish real ales on the handpumps: the Pale Keith, Stewart's 80/- and Radical Road Reverse, Law All-dayer Pale Ale, and a pair from Alchemy (Ritual and Five Sisters).
On 22nd April 2019
- rating: 7
[User has posted 8092 recommendations about 8092 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Market Bar
This large city centre pub used to be a Lloyds No 1 branded Wetherspoons and although the place has been taken on by someone else now, it still retains the feel, and some of the features, of its previous incarnation. Most obvious on entry is the large ‘Welcome to the Capitol’ sign that betrays the pub’s former name but there are also plenty of old ‘Spoons info boards dotted around the place too, suggesting minimal work has been done on the place following the handover. The pub is a huge barn of a lace with a large main room which is carpeted to the front and bare boarded at the rear where the servery runs along the back wall. Large metal-clad pillars split the room into two halves and each pillar has its own TV screen showing either live football or Sky Sports News. Low padded banquettes run along the front wall with insanely high backs and there are a mix of standard tables and chairs and a few high tables and stools in the spaces around the pillars, with just drinking ledges in the space closer to the bar, suggesting plenty of room for when the place gets packed out. The servery has the usual ‘Spoons-style counter and a bar back with a ‘Market’ sign added as a centrepiece. There is a small rear room with limited seating but a much cosier feel to it than the enormous main bar and stairs lead up past some modern art prints to a first floor bar which I initially left unexplored due to the presence of a large group of kids all dressed in ties and blazers, which was an odd sight at such a late hour. Eventually they vanished and I discovered a big U-shaped space with loads more regular seating options, bland décor and plenty more ‘Spoons branding. Live music is heavily promoted and a stage of sorts had been set up in the front corner of the pub where a couple of people had a go at bashing out a few songs without getting interrupted by the old soaks who were trying to get their attention.
The bar supports five handpulls, one of which was off on this visit, leaving a choice of Greene King Abbot Ale, Ringwood Old Thumper and Fortyniner and Deeside APA. I had a pint of the latter which was passable enough and it was reassuring to see that the customer service was as disinterested as I would expect from my average ‘Spoons.
This place must surely scoop the award for the most shoddy pub makeover ever. They’ve somehow managed to take what I imagine was a fairly uninteresting ‘Spoons and make it even more drab and characterless than it was, whilst still retaining a big chunk of their branding. Perhaps worth a quick look to see if they have a decent beer on, but this was probably the weakest pub I tried in Dundee and one I won’t be rushing back to.
On 27th June 2018
- rating: 5
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
john gray left this review about The Capitol (Lloyds No 1 Bar)
Ugly,dull interior.Very quiet customer wise and deathly quiet atmosphere wise on my morning visit.8 handpumps but only Abbott and Stewarts -Edinburgh gold on.Nice cheap coffee and good bottled selection.
On 23rd October 2016
- rating: 5
[User has posted 1023 recommendations about 1009 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Capitol (Lloyds No 1 Bar)
This is one from the list of closures from last November but despite the large For Sale sign outside is soldiering on. It's a fairly typical Lloyds consisting of a rectangular room and an upstairs area. The lighting rig is in one corner.
The bar has eight hand pumps which had one unused, 2 festival ciders, Abbot & Doom Bore doubled and Strathaven Drooken Rabbit.
I went for the Drooken Rabbit which was in good nick. It really wasn't that busy on my early Tuesday evening visit so it's hardly surprising it's earmarked for closure. I actually preferred it here to the busier one in town.
This one is GBG 2016 listed.
On 19th July 2016
- rating: 7
[User has posted 2143 recommendations about 2143 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Gill Smith left this review about The Capitol (JD Wetherspoon)
All right as a Lloyds No 1 but only 3 real ales, Ruddles, Conwy Beachcomber Blonde which was good if a little cold, and a Batemans available soon.
On 17th August 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1339 recommendations about 1222 pubs]