The Swatters Carr

You walk into this Spoons and immediately clock why it's got such a decent rep compared to some of the chain's more grim offerings. The beer garden's a proper sun trap when the weather's behaving, and the interior's got enough character to feel like an actual pub rather than a corporate drinking hall. The usual Wetherspoons menu does its job - curry club on Thursdays pulls a crowd, and you can't argue with £4 pints when everywhere else on Linthorpe Road is charging London prices. Staff actually seem to give a toss, which makes all the difference when you're settling in for a session.