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The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon), Aberdeen
Aberdeen
AB11 5BQ
Pub Type
J D WetherspoonReviews (Current Rating Average: 6 of 10) see review guidelines
Danny O'Revey left this review about The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
Lovely looking building, it doesn't quite live up to it inside, feels a little disjointed and not over comfortable
On 2nd May 2023
- rating: 6
[User has posted 1456 recommendations about 1434 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Pub SignMan left this review about The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a grand Wetherspoons pub located in a former bank which was designed by the eponymous architect. Steps lead up past some imposing entrance pillars, into a small lobby area with some fine architectural details and a table full of flyers and local listings papers. From here, you can access the main bar with its spectacular mosaic tile floor which incorporates numerous interesting decorative features. The rest of the room has been carpeted all the way through to the servery at the far end. Standard tables and chairs have been crammed into the tile floored area whilst high tables and stools make up the majority of the seating in the carpeted space. The bar has a dark wood counter and glazed tile bar back topped with a large decorative wooden feature. Above all this is an attractive frieze depicting men on horseback. Several honey coloured polished granite pillars run through the room, each topped with a gold capital and the ceiling has a number of roses running across it in regimented lines. The right-hand wall has an artfully styled mirrored upper with a series of wood panelled doorways beneath, each leading into a side room where more seating can be found under some huge stained glass windows depicting fish swimming. I noticed a few TV screens around the room, but all were turned off on my mid-morning visit.
There were four guest ales and four ‘Spoons regulars on the handpulls, plus a cider and a rather disappointing three ‘Coming Soon’ clips. I was in for breakfast and didn’t fancy getting on the beer so early, so settled for a mug of tea with my generous fry-up. The pub was woefully understaffed for a breakfast rush and as such a long but orderly queue had formed at the bar.
This place is definitely worth checking out for the magnificent interior which gives you a nice insight into the city’s glory days. It’s a shame I didn’t get the chance to return here to sample their beer, but from what I saw, this is a very pleasant branch of this ubiquitous chain and well worth a look in passing.
On 27th June 2018
- rating: 7
[User has posted 3114 recommendations about 3114 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Quinno _ left this review about The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
A very nice Spoons both outside and in. Formerly a Clydesdale Bank building and it’s an impressive granite pile which has portico columns and a statue of Ceres on the outside. Enter to the main bar (over a nice floor mosaic) with a gold and red colour scheme, quality decorative ceiling moulds, an impressive wall frieze (very Greco!) and impressive dark wood carved bar topper. A second room of similar size runs parallel, separated by wonderful dark wood doors and ornate high mirrors with curved wood trim. A rare feature are the two sets of upright aircon units doubling up as tables. Two banks of six pumps with six genuine guest ales once the usual stagers and double-ups are stripped out. My half of Windswept Blonde was a very good drop once I actually got served, the original barmaid deciding that answering the telephone was more important than taking my money. Apart from her, it’s a good Spoons and easily better than the other one in town.
On 20th March 2018
- rating: 8
[User has posted 5072 recommendations about 5055 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Aqualung . left this review about The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
This is a grand old building that was formerly the Clydesdale Bank. Inside it's a large square room with a high ornate ceiling and further areas off to the right. The furnishings are fairly typical and excessively crammed in. It was getting increasingly busy on a late Wednesday afternoon. I stayed here long enough to realise that they were hopelessly short staffed with queues forming at the bar where there was anything between one and three people serving. The other annoying thing was that later in the evening they turned the sound of the TV screens right up for an English football match which soon prompted me to leave.
Once again although there are twelve hand pumps the beer choice was poor for a city Spoons. It consisted of three available soon, the Scottish JDW Trio Of Doom with Abbot and Doom Bore doubled, a cider, Harviestoun Sorachi Pils, Wooha IPA and Wibblers Genesis. I went for the Wooha IPA (£2.55) which was in decent nick.
Although this is much better than the Justice Mill with the short staff and the TV sport it doesn't deserve more than a 5. It's GBG 2018 listed.
On 18th September 2017
- rating: 5
[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 Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
Large bank-conversion 'spoons with a fine facade and imposing entrance. Slightly less interesting inside than one might expect, apart from the high ceiling in the main bar, with the side and rear seating / dining areas feeling a bit cramped. Usual semi-traditional furniture but the decor is lighter than some. Rather uninspired selection of eight real ales from a total of 12 handpumps, with Orkney Red McGregor (£2.55) being the only Scottish offering (and hardly local at that).
On 16th October 2016
- rating: 6
[User has posted 8086 recommendations about 8086 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
grant bjorkelund left this review about The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
Once a grand bar, now a old tired tacky dump with severe issues, i aint got time to say everything but issues with cleaniness is a big no-no.
On 16th October 2016
- rating: 1
[User has posted 21 recommendations about 20 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Roger Button left this review about The Archibald Simpson (JD Wetherspoon)
This grand granite building (designed by the Pub’s namesake) with its huge portico columns topped of by a statue of Ceres, God Of Plenty, was originally the Headquarters of the North Of Scotland Bank (now part of Clydesdale Bank). A pub called the New Inn had originally stood on the site so when Wetherspoons took the place over in 1997 it was a sort of homecoming.
The main body of the intrior is a typically grand ex-Banking Hall with high decorative ceilings and an elaborate frieze around the walls at ceiling level. The bar stretches the whole width at the far end and one side ois partitioned by a partly glazed wooden screen. A further rear section contains several old pictures and a portrait of Simpson himself. Several original features like the marble fireplaces ere mixed in with more contemporary additions such as the coloured glass fish themed windows. There are several flat screen TVs and also a Big Screen in the main bar area.
This was one of the busier pubs in town and service wasn’t always quick. It was also difficult to tell what beers were available across the 12 pumps as several pump clips were showing ales that were not available for whatever reason, a personl gripe of mine. Despite these shortcomings, it is one of the more interesting ‘Spoons and won’t disappoint as long as you have an open mind regarding the chain.
On 21st July 2010
- rating: 7
[User has posted 1239 recommendations about 1233 pubs]
Please Note: This review is over a year old.
Guy Hannay-Wilson left this review about The Archibald Simpson
Always a good range of beers at this Wetherspoons. Nice building and cheap beer.
On 17th May 2008
- rating: 8
[User has posted 23 recommendations about 23 pubs]