The Kettleby Cross is a relatively young JD Wetherspoon pub, opened in 2007 as the company’s flagship ‘eco-pub’. For over a decade it generated its own electricity via a large wind turbine on the roof, now relying on photovoltaic tiles, and is designed to minimise its energy usage through rainwater harvesting, thermally efficient flooring and evaporative air coolers. In 2010 it was partially destroyed by a mysterious fire, the causes of which are still unconfirmed, and a £1.8m refurbishment was completed almost immediately.
Situated on one of Melton Mowbray’s main roads, the pub is a modern and satisfyingly symmetrical brick building. To the front is a small outdoor seating area; a nice feature, but not the most pleasant of beer gardens facing out onto three lanes of constant traffic.
Despite its modern construction, the interior of the pub offers a welcoming and traditional feel, with dark wood and neutral tones. It’s incredibly spacious, with a raised seating area, a grand fireplace and two different carpets for any Spoons carpet enthusiasts.
The toilets were very well designed, with stone tile and dark wood flooring and doors continuing the traditional and elegant theming of the pub. As is quite common, the women’s were nicer than the men’s, with gold-framed mirrors and a luxurious vanity area – so nice in fact that they were awarded a very rare 5/5.
Ratings (out of 5)
We both rate the pub based on three criteria; the building, the interior and the toilets. These scores are averaged out to give the pub its overall rating. You can read more about the rating system here.
Building: 3.5 & 3.5
Interior: 4.0 & 3.5
Toilets: 4.0 & 5.0
Wetho Wanderers 