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Wetherspoons

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londiscape

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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?

No you haven't, you have the right end of the stick. My partner works for JDW and they pay above minimum wage for even basic jobs and offer a good promotion path for those who want to stay in the trade and have the ambition to become managers - first at individual pub level then up to regional if you're good enough.

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.

I'm assuming your post was referencing 'low wages' - but given that bar tendering is a low skilled job, what would you expect wages to be? JDW pay above minimum wage, I bet your local doesn't!
 
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furnessvale

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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,
Where on earth do you drink? I am a northerner who rarely ventures south of Northampton and I have never paid anything like £4 for a pint in a Wetherspoons pub. Most Wetherspoons in civilisation start at £1.99 a pint and go up to around £2.50 for better stuff.
 

Pyreneenguy

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Unless your 'spoons has a different machine to the others, your credentials as an espresso aficionado are to be questioned, though if you don't know how to spell the drink in the first place......

I'll readily admit that the origin of the word espresso is from the Italian verb esprimere meaning to extract by pression, but the alternative spelling, expresso is widely used throughout Europe, most definitely in France ( home for me) and I have seen it widely used in the UK also.

For the price and the unlimited quantity that you can drink, Wetherspoons espresso would probably satisfy most strong coffee drinkers and from experience I haven't found a £7 espresso at a 5* London hotel any better ( apart perhaps, from the way it is served to you).
 

Busaholic

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Where on earth do you drink? I am a northerner who rarely ventures south of Northampton and I have never paid anything like £4 for a pint in a Wetherspoons pub. Most Wetherspoons in civilisation start at £1.99 a pint and go up to around £2.50 for better stuff.
Here in Penzance it's £1.89 for Ruddles, £1.99 for a couple of others and £2.15 for a very acceptable pint!
 

Mutant Lemming

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Where on earth do you drink? I am a northerner who rarely ventures south of Northampton and I have never paid anything like £4 for a pint in a Wetherspoons pub. Most Wetherspoons in civilisation start at £1.99 a pint and go up to around £2.50 for better stuff.

My previous post per the Wetherspoons at St.Pancras £5.49 for a pint of Staropramen .. bloke behind me paid £4.59 for Fosters. Cheapest ales were £3.75 (but looked a bit iffy)
 

furnessvale

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My previous post per the Wetherspoons at St.Pancras £5.49 for a pint of Staropramen .. bloke behind me paid £4.59 for Fosters. Cheapest ales were £3.75 (but looked a bit iffy)
Sorry, I thought we were talking about English ales! :)
 

IanD

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Where on earth do you drink? I am a northerner who rarely ventures south of Northampton and I have never paid anything like £4 for a pint in a Wetherspoons pub. Most Wetherspoons in civilisation start at £1.99 a pint and go up to around £2.50 for better stuff.

Station 'Spoons often charge more but I've never seen anything over £4 - £3.59 for a real ale in the Barrel Vaults in St Pancras is the highest I've seen. That fizzy keg stuff is usually more expensive, not that I'd bother looking usually.

However, last week in The North Western on Liverpool Lime Street station concourse real ale at £2.29/pint was about 20p per cheaper than the other two Wetherspoons two minutes walk away.
 

Mutant Lemming

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Sorry, I thought we were talking about English ales! :)

Gives a perspective and I did mention the ales were £3.75 - I love my proper ale but Wetherspoons have dished up so many rubbish pints of it that I stick to lager in them - at least it is usually drinkable.
 

furnessvale

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Gives a perspective and I did mention the ales were £3.75 - I love my proper ale but Wetherspoons have dished up so many rubbish pints of it that I stick to lager in them - at least it is usually drinkable.
Each to his own, but I have never had a pint in Wetherspoons so bad that I would turn to lager instead! :)
 

Puffing Devil

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I'll readily admit that the origin of the word espresso is from the Italian verb esprimere meaning to extract by pression, but the alternative spelling, expresso is widely used throughout Europe, most definitely in France ( home for me) and I have seen it widely used in the UK also.

For the price and the unlimited quantity that you can drink, Wetherspoons espresso would probably satisfy most strong coffee drinkers and from experience I haven't found a £7 espresso at a 5* London hotel any better ( apart perhaps, from the way it is served to you).

And now I understand. French coffee is years behind the UK now. Next time you're here, or in Italy, seek out a good espresso and you'll understand.

The 'spoons machines are very poor.

Thank you for mansplaining espresso to me. Incorrect spelling is still incorrect, no matter how many times it's repeated.
 

Puffing Devil

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Each to his own, but I have never had a pint in Wetherspoons so bad that I would turn to lager instead! :)

My drink of choice is Punk IPA which runs at £4.69 in central London in spoons. Still cheaper than the same beer in a BrewDog bar in the Capital.
 

GusB

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Here in Penzance it's £1.89 for Ruddles, £1.99 for a couple of others and £2.15 for a very acceptable pint!
I read these prices and weep. I'm £3.20 for a pint of Wellpark's finest cooking lager in my local. If I want a pint of anything decent in a pub that actually cares about the condition their beer is served in, it's heading toward the £4 mark.
 

Pyreneenguy

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And now I understand. French coffee is years behind the UK now. Next time you're here, or in Italy, seek out a good espresso and you'll understand.

The 'spoons machines are very poor.

Thank you for mansplaining espresso to me. Incorrect spelling is still incorrect, no matter how many times it's repeated.

One of the biggest problems with coffee in French cafés is that they use the most awful, cheap coffee ! Wetherspoons uses Lavazza, it might not be the best quality available, but it does make a decent, drinkable espresso.

Mansplaining, that was new to me ! Yes, you are quite right, widespread acceptance is not proof of correct usage !

Andy, proud possessor of O level English Language, grade A in 1975 !
 

507 001

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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.

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.

Of course home made chips can be superior. But they can also be inconsistent.
But you’re never going to get a chain pub doing that. But as I say, out of Wetherspoons, Hungry Horse, sizzling pubs et al. Wetherspoons by far has the nicest, and most consistent chips.

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

You find eyes and bits of peel in a normal bag of McCain home fries too. They’re processed, but they’re definitely not mashed potato in batter.
 

Bletchleyite

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Consistently bad in my view - a bit like McFries. You know what you'll get but it isn't that nice at all.

The only way to do chips is as sold in your local chippy. Thick sliced, deep fried potatoes. Nowt else.
 

507 001

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Consistently bad in my view - a bit like McFries. You know what you'll get but it isn't that nice at all.

The only way to do chips is as sold in your local chippy. Thick sliced, deep fried potatoes. Nowt else.

If you think Wetherspoons are bad I’d hate to see what you think of some other chains.

It’s not always that easy. Out of our three local chippys, only one does decent chips, and even then it can be hit and miss. Its not quite that simple.
 

Bletchleyite

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If you think Wetherspoons are bad I’d hate to see what you think of some other chains

Fair point. Chain pub food is rarely good. But if near enough everything comes with chips, it would strike me as sensible to put effort into doing chips right.

If it's covered in a flour coating, it's not "chips", it's some form of battered scallop[1] or potato croquette. Or "orange chips", a West Midlands thing.

[1] I know scallops are fish, but some Northern chippies sell thick battered slices of potato as "scallops".

It’s not always that easy. Out of our three local chippys, only one does decent chips, and even then it can be hit and miss. Its not quite that simple.

I find chippy chips are usually more edible than anything you get in any pub.
 

Puffing Devil

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The best Chippy Chips I had were made by the Beech Road Chippy in Chorlton, over 25 years ago. They double fried their chips before it was even a thing. And had a proper steamer for puddings.

I think it's now closed, no doubt replaced by a beard oil emporium.
 

WestCoast

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To be honest, I find Wetherspoons damn good compared to some of the other chain pubs/bars. I've never been overcharged in one of their locations nor have the staff ever been less than efficient. Everyone seems well trained in what they offer!

Compare that to Revolution da Cuba or Stonegate Pubs where I have both had runs in with the staff because they were overcharging and not honouring their own offers. In one Stonegate-run venue (Missoula in Glasgow) there was a poster saying half price food all day at the door and the staff argued with me about it when they asked for full price! In the end they gave me the drink free but it was still not half price!
 

Bletchleyite

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The best Chippy Chips I had were made by the Beech Road Chippy in Chorlton, over 25 years ago. They double fried their chips before it was even a thing. And had a proper steamer for puddings.

I think it's now closed, no doubt replaced by a beard oil emporium.

Indeed closed, but only quite recently I think.

I thought chippies double-frying was just those chippies who liked to save money (i.e. waste) by par-frying some and finishing to order? In any circles I've been in that has always been looked down upon as inferior, and it can often result in a quite burnt taste.
 

Puffing Devil

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Indeed closed, but only quite recently I think.

I thought chippies double-frying was just those chippies who liked to save money (i.e. waste) by par-frying some and finishing to order? In any circles I've been in that has always been looked down upon as inferior, and it can often result in a quite burnt taste.

Certainly not the case here, lines out the door and still double frying and not reheating.
 

WelshBluebird

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No you haven't, you have the right end of the stick. My partner works for JDW and they pay above minimum wage for even basic jobs and offer a good promotion path for those who want to stay in the trade and have the ambition to become managers - first at individual pub level then up to regional if you're good enough.

Without saying too much, from experience of close friends and friends of friends it massively depends on the pub manager!
Some are good, work hard to make sure the rota is fair and the pub is well staffed when needed.
Others are awful, are late to produce rotas (I've seen rotas not done until the start day of that week!) and always understaff.
 

Mutant Lemming

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Each to his own, but I have never had a pint in Wetherspoons so bad that I would turn to lager instead! :)

Well lucky you - I've had the misfortune to have far too many duff pints of ale that I avoid Wetherspoons altogether unless there is absolutely no alternative or maybe to have a look at the one or two interesting conversions (like the former cinema at Braintree). The Metropolitan at Baker St is okay but then it gets let down by poor service when busy. I just prefer a proper cosy local pub to some vast drinking barn populated by local alkies.
 

IanD

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I just prefer a proper cosy local pub to some vast drinking barn populated by local alkies.

To be fair, many pubs are populated by local alkies, it's not just a 'Spoons thing. It's just that if you are drinking in any volume and don't like a park bench or sitting at home alone then price may be a factor so a Wetherspoons would be the obvious choice if one is available.

But of you want the cosy atmosphere and JDW prices then here's an option https://whatpub.com/pubs/SEL/10912/bankers-draft-eltham
 

IanD

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The staff told me that's the smallest one in the UK!

They told me that too. I seem to recall they still manage to make it a trek to the loos though.

The Rusty Bucket around the corner is also worth a visit for some interesting beers although at least double 'Spoons prices.
 

Mutant Lemming

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To be fair, many pubs are populated by local alkies, it's not just a 'Spoons thing. It's just that if you are drinking in any volume and don't like a park bench or sitting at home alone then price may be a factor so a Wetherspoons would be the obvious choice if one is available.

But of you want the cosy atmosphere and JDW prices then here's an option https://whatpub.com/pubs/SEL/10912/bankers-draft-eltham

Yes, the corporate god of size being everything means we have more and more larger pubs whereas the smaller proper locals pubs end up being turned into flats. Hopefully the rise of the micropub will reverse this trend - not saying there isn't a place for the large drinking barns just that some of us prefer smaller well rounded drinking establishments.

As for options - http://www.thedoorhinge.co.uk/ that's a fairly decent one in that part of the world.
 
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