The New Fairlop Oak (JD Wetherspoon), Barkingside, Ilford

This decent sized pub on a prominent roundabout a short walk from Fairlop tube station is an example of a former Berni Inn that avoided the ignominy of a future as a Beefeater/Brewers Fayre outlet, instead finding itself converted into a typical suburban Wetherspoons. The pub has a wide L-shaped layout with the left hand side given over to a sizeable seating area with lots of standard seating in what appeared to be the family area. The space has a conservatory feel to it, with large windows all around and a lovely skylight above with a nice bit of tile banding. Some nice bench booths run along the back wall and the area is carpeted throughout, making it a popular spot on our Sunday afternoon visit. A quick glance through the windows revealed a decent looking rear patio area with a good deal of additional seating. Moving to the right, the bar appears along the back wall with a well made counter and pleasing coloured glass canopy. Opposite the bar is a carpeted area with high tables and stools filling up most of the space. There is an old fireplace to one side which had a TV screen above showing muted live football. The room extends to the rear down the right hand side of the bar where a number of banquette booths with plain glass partitioning can be found along the right hand wall with standard banquette seating to the left. Walls throughout have been decorated with various certificates, a few old paintings and the usual 'Spoons information boards, whilst opposite the bar there is a smart display cabinet full of various bottles and bits of pub memorabilia. There were ten handpulls on the bar with mixed results in terms of their offerings. Four were dispensing guest ales whilst three more had 'Spoons regulars such as Doom Bar and Ruddles. The final three comprised a 'Coming Soon' clip and two unused pumps. I tried the Salopian Darwin's Origin which was in excellent shape although this beer doesn't seem to have the 'wow' factor I recall it having a few years ago. We also stopped off for a bite to eat and my steak and chips was great value and surprisingly tasty - I'll definitely be trying it again in other branches. This is quite a nice pub with good demarcation between the drinker's area to the right and the somewhat more manic family area full of noisy kids to the left. The beer range isn't the widest but if this level of quality can be maintained, I'm not sure it really matters. Barkingside seems to be a bit of a pub desert, so there wasn't much of a decision to be made in visiting this place, but if you do find yourself in the area it's reassuring to know that there is at least one decent option.