The Sir John Baker (JD Wetherspoon), North End, Portsmouth

Run of the mill Spoons in one large rectangular room. Not a huge range of beers beyond the usual offerings but condition not bad. No surprises - exactly what you might expect.

As might be expected in a suburb this is a smaller Spoons that as noted below is a rectangular converted shop. The bar has two sets of five hand pumps which had the IPA version of the JDW Trio Of Doom, Flack Manor Flack Catcher & Romsey Gold, Dark Star Revelation, Directors, Bombardier, London Pride and one Available Soon. I went for the Revelation (£2.65) which was in good nick but possibly lacked some of the hop flavour I remember from the past. Although the beer choice could be improved I thought this was a reasonably good Spoons.

Standard-issue shop-conversion 'spoons, with little to note except the staff who seemed reasonably efficient. Ten real ales on handpump; mostly usual suspects, but a couple of Dark Star beers, Upham Punter and King Poaches Moon (£2.25) adding some interest.

Official site of The Sir John Baker (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Sir John Baker (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

This is a fairly large Wetherspoom's which on most of my visits has usually got a good rage of real ales which have been in good condition.

Classic high street Spoons with the usual long, narrow and gloomy interior. Fairly unmemorable décor, red walls and the regulation local prints. Two TVs showing Six Nations rugby with sound (whatever happened to the ‘quiet pub’ promise of yore?). 10 pumps and interestingly the first bank of pumps nearest door contained the guest ales (all available too). My Brakspear Special was really rather good indeed, one of the best of the day. Decent service and the punter base seemed fairly relaxed. Tried the WiFi but it wouldn't connect after logging in. Perhaps a little better than expected, really.