Scottish Wetherspoons Pub Reports

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The Bobbing John Visited

AlloaFK10 1JL46 Drysdale Street
Visited: 15th September 2026Pub 20

Photos

The Bobbing John exterior, Alloa Magpie Angry Bird on the pumps Pint of Angry Bird and the menu Dart board at The Bobbing John Ochil Hills from the Devon Way Warm-up at Ochilview Park

Local Area

Up for the football — Stenhousemuir versus Partick Thistle at Ochilview on the Tuesday night. Stenny won it 1-0, H Kargbo in the 76th minute. Before kick-off I got the train into Alloa and walked a stretch of the Devon Way (NCN 767) out to Tillicoultry and back — old Devon Valley Railway trackbed, traffic-free, Wee County country between the town and the Ochils. Alloa sits on the north bank of the Forth, Clackmannanshire’s main town under the hills. Coal, glass and brewing built the place: the Earls of Mar pushed the pits, Lady Francis Erskine’s glassworks started in 1750, and Younger’s was brewing here from the 1760s. Alloa Tower is still the Erskines’ old keep by the river — Mary, Queen of Scots and James VI both spent time under Erskine guardianship. The pub’s name comes from the same house: John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, born in Alloa in 1675, nicknamed Bobbing John for chopping and changing sides, and the man who led the failed Jacobite rising of 1715.

The Pub

The Bobbing John, 46 Drysdale Street, FK10 1JL. Three-storey sandstone, purpose-built for the Alloa Co-operative Society in 1895 (CAMRA), later a Poundland before Spoons took it on — announced opening March 2014. I really liked this one. Feels a modern good layout in an older building. Toilets up a nice wide staircase, with a disabled lift to the same floor. Staff were really good and friendly on a Tuesday afternoon. Dart board up the back of the pub — first time I’ve noticed one in a Wetherspoons.

Football Team

Nearest senior club is Alloa Athletic, the Wasps, black and gold, at Recreation Park (Indodrill Stadium) on Clackmannan Road. Club history dates them from 1878 (Alloa Athletic from 1883); at the Recs since 1895; into the league in 1921 with a first match against Stenhousemuir. Today’s opponents were Stenny at Ochilview — close enough on the train, different town.

Travel

Out: train from Partick to Alloa. After the walk, train from Alloa to Larbert for the game at Stenhousemuir. Lift home from the football.

Beers

Magpie Angry Bird, ruby red ale, £2.19 a pint. Good strong tasting red beer — solid 4.5 out of 5. Bargain. Magpie Brewery is an independent Nottingham microbrewery, founded in 2006 by home-brewers Ken Morrison, Bob Douglas and Nick Sewter beside Notts County’s Meadow Lane ground. It started on a six-barrel plant at Ashling Court, Ashling Street (NG2), and upgraded in 2017 to around a 20-barrel kit. The core range is built on British malt and hops; the brewery also runs a shop and taproom (opened 2019) and has been linked with local pubs including Doctor’s Orders and the Barrel Drop. Angry Bird is a 4.0% ABV ruby red ale / heavily hopped ruby bitter, brewed with British First Gold and Bramling Cross hops. It sits in the session range — malty and fruity with a nutty, mellow fruit character over the ruby colour, finishing with a proper hop bite rather than a soft sweet red. Commonly seen on cask as a Wetherspoon guest.