The Society Room (JD Wetherspoon), Glasgow

Modern glass fronted Wetherspoons (actually a Lloyds No 1 bar) in what was the heart of the financial district. The building was previously the Star Life Assurance Society, hence the pub name. The modern interior has low ceilings and a vast floorspace broken up by a few chubnky pillars but it felt quite dingy and claustrophobic, particularly towards the rear where nautarl light fails to penetrate. There was quite a bit of open floorspace at the front and around the bar area suggesting that the place is magnet for large groups of vertical drinkers although it was relatively calm and peaceful on my early Sunday evening visit. At the rear is a groovy dance floor with overhead panel lights and touches of neon that wouldn’t look out of place in a 70’s disco movie. Beerwise, there were 6 hand pumps with a reasonable selection as far as Lloyds 1 bars go and better than some of the other Wetherspoons in town – Greene King Abbott, Caledonian Deuchars, Shepherd Neame Bishop Finger, Moorhouse Blonde Wirtch, Jennings Snecklifter and Strathaven Aleberry. Overall it won’t be anyone’s favourite Wetherspoons in town but it certainly isn’t the worst either.

A Lloyds No 1 pub in a former insurance company's buildings, the Society Room is straight out of the JDW mouldwith nothing special to make it stand out from other pubs in the chain. That said, it was clean and tidy, and the clientele was civilised, mostly a mix of office workers, late shoppers and a few lads in the early stages of a night out. Only three ales on - I had a pint of Caledonian Flying Scotsman which was in very good condition but, if I were to be picky, just a little on the cool side. I'm not convinced it merits its GBG entry when compared to some of the other local pubs, but it is civilised and worth including on a crawl. Probably a good place for a quick lunch, too.