Lord John, Stroud

The Lord John arrived in Stroud some twenty years ago, occupying what was once the town's Post Office.

The red brick and carved Cotswold stone façade on Russell Street gives little indication of the Tardis-like space inside, but the gold lettering on a burgundy background proudly proclaim this place one of Tim Martin's Wetherspoon empire, loved and loathed in equal measure. You can enter by one of two doors that straddle a raised area inside accommodating five or so tables. The entrance on the left features a shallow ramp for wheelchair access, the one on the right has three steps.

Inside the bar runs down the right-hand wall with some booths and individual raised tables opposite. This space benefits from a large glazed roof canopy that once lit the sorting office below, and this space is bathed in light on sunny days. For real ale lovers there are two ranks of 6 hand pumps both carrying the same offering.

Further into the premises past the bar, the space opens out to the left with more booths and tables. An interesting feature of this area is that to the rear, with doors to the walled courtyard, the space has been designed to look like a railway carriage complete with overhead luggage racks and a curved boarded ceiling. It is in this area that you will find the toilets and as is traditional at Wetherspoon they are as far from the main entrance as possible and on another floor, in this case downstairs, though there are disabled ones available on the ground floor.

The whole space is tastefully decorated with the signature Axminister carpet and, as with other Wetherspoon pubs, the design is unique to the venue. There is plenty of well-designed lighting and varnished woodwork. Walls are adorned with framed pictures/stories depicting local people, events and places.

To the rear there is a walled suntrap courtyard which is simple and functional with a dozen or so picnic tables within white painted walls. Hanging baskets and planters atop the wall give a softer edge and festoon lighting overhead makes for a good ambience when the sun goes down. Smokers are permitted to indulge at the leftmost end.

Opening times correct as of 23/09/2022