One of the better Wetherspoon's pubs. It has the wallet sparing benefits you expect, but an unusual and interesting setting.

The Venue
The Commercial Rooms occupies a Grade II listed building on Corn Street, which originally (1810 onwards) served as a gentlemen's club, and while the decor is standard Wetherspoon's (like the bar selection and menu), the building is impressive enough to make it worthwhile popping your head round the door.

Out front on Corn Street the neo-classical facade shelters a few tables from the elements. Through the doors you are straight into the broad, long and remarkably high-ceilinged main drinking room, housing several dozen tables and the bar.

The size of the room and the regularity of the layout gives the Commercial Rooms something of a cafeteria feel that is not without a certain egalitarian appeal. Next to the kitchen is another much smaller and less interesting overflow room.

The People
As always seems the case in Wetherspoon's pubs, the clientele in the Commercial Rooms is fairly diverse – a haunt for suits, men in flat-caps, students, lunch break pinters and session drinkers. Everyone mucks in together and minds their business.

The Food
For anyone unfamiliar with Wetherspoon's food... An extensive cooked breakfast selection (available until midday), lamb, chicken, beef or vegetarian burgers (£4.69 including a pint, glass of wine or soft drink), jacket potatoes with various fillings (£3.39), gammon-and-egg, beef-and-ale and chicken-and-ham pies, chicken or chickpea curries (£5.50 to £7).

There are also steaks, grill platters, salmon with hollandaise, (all £7 to £9.50), a few pasta dishes (£5.69 to £6.69) and accompanying salads and various sides. The menu is huge and there are both permanent and temporary promotional offers which are always available.

The food is unremarkable in terms of taste, but the portions are decent, ingredients are generally wholesome and meals are always decent value. Moreover, cheap prices mean more customers – the kitchen is high turnover so the food is fresh.

The Drink
Like the food menu, the drinks list at the Commercial Rooms is huge. Excellent for bitter, with both local and non-local guest ales on the several hand-pulls (£1.60 to £2.10), Guinness and Fosters are also under £2.

There's an extensive if uninspiring wine list and a reasonable array of cheap spirits. Variable promotions are always available and bring the prices down even further.

The Last Word
A Wetherspoon's without pretence in an interesting, unusual venue. The Commercial Rooms serves up dirt-cheap food and drinks for anyone and everyone.

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