Wetherspoons

[bramling]

Presumably this is because they want to use the maximum space they can for the "drinking floor" and putting toilets (other than the accessible one) on that level wastes that space?

There are exceptions. "Old Spoons" in MK (the one nearest the station) is all on one level and there are, if you really want, tables you can sit at where it would be fewer than 10 steps chair to urinal. I half recall them being on the ground floor in Fort William too (largely because upstairs is a Travelodge).

If it is a deliberate policy then it’s a sensible one, as many Wetherspoon establishments can be pretty busy at times to the point where it’s hard to find a table, so maximising the space available for that is quite reasonable IMO - subject to the proviso that there’s a disabled toilet or two in the main level for those who find stairs a problem.

ISTR Farringdon is another where the toilets are on the ground floor.

 

[GusB]

I went to the newish Wetherspoons in Keswick at the weekend. Just to reassure you the beer, food and service is standard and it is miles from wherever you are sat to the toilets. Ha ha.

So it's not just me who has noticed the hike to get to the facilities. My first Spoons was the Archibald Simpson in Aberdeen where you have to walk to the back of the pub, climb stairs and walk along another corridor to get to the cludgie. My local one in Elgin isn't quite so bad, but I've had similar experiences in other places.

 

[Darandio]

Mushrooms are the king of vegetables - an honorary meat in many ways. They should be in everything.

Do be aware though that you may be the cause of a trip to Morrisons for lunch.

Not a bad thing to be responsible for! Did you go?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not a bad thing to be responsible for! Did you go?

Didn't in the end, I had a meeting at an inconvenient time. Might go tomorrow though

 

[fowler9]

Is that the one that use to be a police station or Jail or something similar? They are good about doing old buildings, theatres, cinemas, banks etc.

Most recently it was an armed forces recruitment centre I think. I remember going in there relatively recently believe it or not. He ha.

 

[Antman]

Well my local Wetherspoons certainly doesn't fall into this category. It is an old cinema and is glorious inside, with lots of the old features being retained. As for the food, I've never had a meal that I've thought was 'crap' but that might just boil down to personal tastes and preferences

The Opera House in Tunbridge Wells is like that although it is a bit pricier than most spoons.

Generally I find them good, they do a very reasonably priced breakfast with unlimited tea or coffee.

 

[Spamcan81]

Dropped in the one in 'downtown' Stevenage as it was marginally preferable to standing in the rain at the bus station (quite marginal as it turned out). The most bovine looking species in the place were the clientele waddling around it . Martin should be contributing an awful lot more to the NHS - even if he isn't deemed responsible for the obese and the drunks that pervade his establishments he should at least be aiding the system that keeps his customer base alive longer to boost his profits.

Wasn't quite as bad when the Edward The Confessor was open on the other side of the bus station as the knuckle draggers used to gather there for a bevy and a fight. Now that's gone, they tend to gather in the 'Spoons.

 

[Spamcan81]

Then with all due respect, I'm not sure where there is in Dewsbury for your friend to drink at a price he deems acceptable. The West Riding is dearer than a Spoons or any surviving Working Mens' Clubs, but it's hardly "expensive" even by Yorkshire standards.

Well he's a thrifty Yorkshireman and considers the West Riding expensive. I think his bus pass is seeing more use as he travels further afield in his search for ale.

 

[Butts]

The Opera House in Tunbridge Wells is like that although it is a bit pricier than most spoons.

Generally I find them good, they do a very reasonably priced breakfast with unlimited tea or coffee.

Is that the same Building that used to be a Top Rank Bingo Club in the eighties ?

I did a few Relief Manager Shifts back then - the "Muppet Boxes" were popular with players - are they still there ?

 

[telstarbox]

Boxes are still there and are used for occasional live opera performances.

 

[507 001]

We’ve got several in Liverpool.

Some are good (the North Western, the Captain Alexander).

Some are ok (Richard John Blackler and The Fall Well)

One in particular is horrible, that being The Welkin.

Decent drinks at decent prices (I don’t drink beer, only shorts and their selection is usually brilliant and they actually know how to mix them properly).

Food is ok, if you just want pub food. They do the best chips of all the chain Pubs by far, and the Chocolate fudge cake on the dessert menu is superb.

You just need to make sure you go in one of the good ones!

It’s a similar story in Manchester where I work.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interesting you say that over the chips. They are McCain Home Fries, which are basically mashed potato in batter. Annoyingly this makes them unsuitable for gluten free diets (there is a GF version but they cost more so not a Spoons thing), but even ignoring that I'm not a fan.

You simply cannot improve upon slicing potatoes and deep frying them.

 

[furnessvale]

Interesting you say that over the chips. They are McCain Home Fries, which are basically mashed potato in batter. Annoyingly this makes them unsuitable for gluten free diets (there is a GF version but they cost more so not a Spoons thing), but even ignoring that I'm not a fan.

You simply cannot improve upon slicing potatoes and deep frying them.

That is not how Wetherspoons describe their chips which they say are simply potatoes cut into chips.
https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/food/food-provenance/our-chips

 

[Harpers Tate]

In response to @Bletchleyite

Oh that is so much a matter of opinion. I have had chips made as you describe varying from practically inedible and foul tasting, right up the outstanding. In my experience, outstanding is pretty rare. What 'spoons do with their McCain product, is produce fairly predictable acceptability - just about never dire, but never outstanding, either; always "OK".

 

[IanD]

Interesting you say that over the chips. They are McCain Home Fries, which are basically mashed potato in batter. Annoyingly this makes them unsuitable for gluten free diets (there is a GF version but they cost more so not a Spoons thing), but even ignoring that I'm not a fan.

You simply cannot improve upon slicing potatoes and deep frying them.

Odd that you find occasional bits of peel and eyes in their chips. That's great attention to detail in their mashed potato fakery.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Odd that you find occasional bits of peel and eyes in their chips. That's great attention to detail in their mashed potato fakery.

Clearly not mash, then, just overcooked! It tastes like mash.

They do however have a batter type coating on them (mentioned in the article) which serves no useful purpose other than to make them unsuitable for coeliacs etc.

This:
https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/5685...and-burger-king-reveal-secret-to-their-fries/

confirms they are indeed McCain Home Fries (also known more recently as Home Chips).

 

[IanD]

I'm not a big fan of their chips either really although it does surprise me how many of my friends think they are the best thing since sliced potatoes.

I'm with you - just cut a potato (Maris Piper for choice) into sticks and fry it in hot oil. Once.

 

[High Dyke]

I'm currently in one at the moment, High Wycombe. It's pretty busy being lunchtime, but the clientele seem better than in my home town.

The worst I've ever been in was the Moon and Starfish at Clacton-on- Sea ... Very inbred! It also wanted a good refurbishment. Another experience was the one in Market Square, Nottingham. It was like a scene from a cowboy film. I walked in and everyone stops to look at you.

Now if they replaced Doombar with a better ale then perhaps I may visit one more often.

 

[IanD]

I'm currently in one at the moment, High Wycombe. It's pretty busy being lunchtime, but the clientele seem better than in my home town.

The worst I've ever been in was the Moon and Starfish at Clacton-on- Sea ... Very inbred! It also wanted a good refurbishment. Another experience was the one in Market Square, Nottingham. It was like a scene from a cowboy film. I walked in and everyone stops to look at you.

Now if they replaced Toolbar with a better ale then perhaps I may visit one more often.

Most 'Spoons usually have something better than Doombar somewhere.

Edit: Ha! I thought Toolbar was your nickname for Doombar.

 

[High Dyke]

Most 'Spoons usually have something better than Doombar somewhere.

Luckily they do. I'm currently imbibing Windsor & Eton, Knight of the Garter.

Indeed...stupid predictive text.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The worst I've ever been in was the Moon and Starfish at Clacton-on- Sea ... Very inbred! It also wanted a good refurbishment.

Clacton is as a place *rough*. It makes Southport look incredibly posh, though it and Blackpool might be an even match in a pub brawl.

 

[Cowley]

Most 'Spoons usually have something better than Doombar somewhere.

Edit: Ha! I thought Toolbar was your nickname for Doombar.

Toolbar!

 

[Puffing Devil]

Got to say they the Chips are consistently good and to my taste. Can't beat the offering on steak night, especially in Central London, where £12 and change gets a Sirloin, Chips and a Brewdog Punk IPA.

 

[Pyreneenguy]

Visiting the Richard John Blackler in Liverpool is a real blast from the past ! I was there just a few months ago, over New Year and the memories of the huge father Christmas and the Grotto came flooding back !

Food wise, I'd only go for breakfast, the toast is good, as are the bacon and sausage buns ! Unlimited refills are really appreciated by this expresso aficionado !

 

[AnthonyRail]

I'm currently in one at the moment at Taunton.

Okay food at cheap prices. I only visit Wetherspoon to photo the carpet.

 

[Busaholic]

Toolbar!

Don't go dissing Cornwall's finest: well, the finest Wetherspoons are prepared to buy in to sell at £2.15 a pop, anyway!

 

[Drsatan]

I have mixed views regarding Wetherspoons.

I like the fact you can buy a pint of ale for under £4 at most of their establishments, the food is (bar a few exceptions) good value, making a pub lunch more affordable to individuals on low incomes. Wetherspoons have sympathetically restored most of their pubs, a good example would be the Imperial in Exeter.

I'm not a fan of Tim Martin's political views and how his business promotes these views in his pubs, nor am I a fan of their use of zero-hours contracts or the poor treatment of their staff.

Unfortunately, some of us are trapped in a scenario where the only affordable pint is a Wetherspoons pint due to zero-hours contracts and underemployment,

 

[bramling]

I have mixed views regarding Wetherspoons.

I like the fact you can buy a pint of ale for under £4 at most of their establishments, the food is (bar a few exceptions) good value, making a pub lunch more affordable to individuals on low incomes. Wetherspoons have sympathetically restored most of their pubs, a good example would be the Imperial in Exeter.

I'm not a fan of Tim Martin's political views and how his business promotes these views in his pubs, nor am I a fan of their use of zero-hours contracts or the poor treatment of their staff.

Unfortunately, some of us are trapped in a scenario where the only affordable pint is a Wetherspoons pint due to zero-hours contracts and underemployment,

I thought JDW’s was generally regarded as a good employer, albeit one who pays low wages. Have I picked up the wrong end of the stick on this?

 

[Flying Snail]

I thought JDW’s was generally regarded as a good employer, albeit one who pays low wages. Have I picked up the wrong end of the stick on this?

In my book those two statements directly contradict each other.

Sadly we probably now are at the point where not treating your workforce like sh*t is something to crow about rather than being the basic standard expected of every employer.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

After an expensive mediocre pint at the dreadfully over rated Parcel Yard at KX I nipped over to St.P expecting a swift (if expensive) pint at the Sourced Market bar. Unfortunately a 'technical issue' meant they had no draught beer so I bit the bullet and gave the Wetherspoon a try - £5.49 for a pint of Staropramen ! They are having a serious patchy long necked creature on this - premium prices for a second rate Lidl/Aldi style experience? Are they for real. They're going to be going along the full Aldi/Lidl road and advertise their inferior second rate offering as being quality at this rate.