"On a quiet time on a Wednesday afternoon (just before schools out I visited this now well established venue for a late lunch. There 's a 'Beer Festival ' in progress and more ale pumps than usual are available. Being on the Cask Marque AleTrail, all those beers on offer should be in prime condition. The first beer I tried, Butcombe Gold (4.4%ABV, the tasting notes mention, inter alia, 'vitality, ' 'mellowness in character, ' and a 'rounded bittersweet finish ' which I thought a right load of cobblers. The beer was a decent drop and was indeed in prime condition. My lunch, a well seasoned and spicy Beef Madras curry was a step up from the usual (rather bland pub curries, the beef being particularly good having been given a thorough pounding before the cook. This and the beer, I received change from eight quid. Service was prompt, staff were attentive I was well pleased with my timing, meal and visit. Sometimes, Spoons visits can be a somewhat raucous and crowded experience. This suits some, others prefer a more dignified encounter. Timing is everything. I finished with a pint of Greene King 's Ruddles, 3.7%ABV and again, the compiler of the tasting notes waxed lyrical about 'Berry flavour ' 'toffee/caramel ' and 'crystal meths '..........sorry, misread that, 'crystal malt ' but there definitely is much more flavour to this beer, even though being of a lower ABV"
