The Grapes (JD Wetherspoon), Sutton

due to close aug 5th

One of two Wetherspoon's in Sutton town centre, this one is almost certainly a former Victorian street corner pub. It goes back a long way but is quite narrow internally, much of the seating area is up a couple of steps. The bar is fairly centrally located along the internal side wall, of interest are a couple of short biographies of Jack Warner (Dixon of Dock Green and The Blue Lamp) and HG Wells who seems to have lived everywhere. Not the greatest of ale selections here, the other JDW in Sutton is better, I had a passable pint of Twickenham Naked Ladies, the only other of interest was Bateman's Yellabelly Gold. Lots of bar proppers in here meaning getting to see the clips and getting served was rather tedious.

Standard Spoons. Longish room with bar to the right. Usual selection of real ales. Reasonable enough place but I prefer the other Spoons nearer to the station.

Standard Wetherspoon pub, all dark wood interior. Long bar down right handside. Seating on the left. Always busy at lunch time but seem to have not enough staff on. Anyway, I still like it. Lots of choices of ales on tap. Does have outside seating, but too cold to visit.

Official site of The Grapes (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

Official site of The Grapes (JD Wetherspoon) - www.jdwetherspoon.com

A proper corner-pub building (at the front at least) with what looks like a later extension at the back. Nothing very interesting about the partially split-level remodelled interior, but pleasant enough and the staff were attentive at clearing and tables, etc. Beer garden signposted. Fair choice of nine real ales from the two banks of five handpumps, albeit with the most local one - Wimbledon Copper Leaf - also being the most expensive (£2.45).