The George Inn (JD Wetherspoon), Sandbach

Spoons Trio plus four guests available at the time of my most recent visit back in March. Mainly full of older folks and mums with their kids, I fully suspected that half term had coincided with visit. Sadly some of these kids have never been taught about the use of indoor voices. Noisy brats aside, it was very busy, as you'd expect, but no issues with service via the app. Toilets are upstairs, naturally, and the tiled pillars between the urinals make them feel a bit narrow and would probably be a struggle for a more stout gentleman. Standard Spoons experience, if in a more pub-like building than is normal for the chain, but if you value your sanity I would recommend avoiding a lunch time visit during half term.

Re-visited on Tuesday evening. Two banks of six, duplicated as they had been on my previous visit. The three usuals featured plus Old Speckled Hen, Great Newsome Holderness Dark and Wobbly Bob labelled as "up next" - so there was only one real option. Guest ales at £2.10 a pint. I went for the Holderness Dark which was a pleasant dark mild and in good condition. Quite a few people in at the time of my visit without being overly busy. This was presumably a pub before becoming a Wetherspoons, so feels more pub-like in terms of layout than some of their conversions do. Still has the small beer garden to the rear and the toilets are still upstairs. Not bad but only one real ale of interest at the time of my visit so some room for improvement there.

The reviews from 2016 noted that despite having two banks of six hand pulls, these are just duplicates of each other. I visited yesterday and can confirm that this is still the case. In addition to the standard Doom Bar, Ruddles and Abbot Ale were Shanakee Stout by Wickwar, Madog by Purple Moose and Wobbly Bob by Phoenix. I had the Shanakee at £2.29 for a pint, although this was after a delay being served as there was just nobody at the bar. However I was the only one waiting so it wasn't too frustrating once somebody arrived. The place itself has modern décor and fairly open plan but feels split into sections (if that makes sense). There is a small beer garden out the back. Toilets are upstairs (naturally) and the gents were large with walls between the urinals (similar to the Navigator in Liverpool). A shame there were not more guest ales, but perhaps the turnover does not justify it at this venue. I was only staying for one and the Shanakee was in good nick.