TRIVIA: Stations with Wetherspoons

[blue87]

The Esquire House is across the road from Anniesland Station.

 

[geoffk]

The Imperial in Exeter is well worth a visit to see the orangery there. I see there are 5 Wetherspoon's with 'Railway' in the title

The 'Spoons opposite the long-closed Fallowfield station in south Manchester is called the Great Central - so they got the right railway this time, although the name is probably lost on most of the punters. The old station building is now part of a Sainsbury's store.

 

[CaptainHaddock]

Here in Barnsley the former Barnsley Courthouse Rail Station (opposite the current Barnsley Interchange) was converted into a pub by Wetherspoons some years ago but has since changed hands and is now owned by another pubco.

 

[John Griffiths]

There is is a spoons called The Five Swans 2-300 metres or so from Haymarket bus station. But - if we are talking about non spoons - better by far though is the micropub The Mean eyed Cat, on St Thomas' St just opposite the bus station or its near neighhbour The Hotspur on Percy Street.

 

[Hophead]

The Beehive at Gatwick arrivals was practically on the station. Not sure if its reopened yet.

Monday 5 December apparently. Refit cost £900,000.

 

[dk1]

Monday 5 December apparently. Refit cost £900,000.

That’s excellent news. Thanks.

 

[Wolfie]

Monday 5 December apparently. Refit cost £900,000.

Your namesake brew is a decent drop. It's a shame that Asahi are closing the Darkstar brewery.

 

[DelW]

The Imperial in Exeter is well worth a visit to see the orangery there. I see there are 5 Wetherspoon's with 'Railway' in the title, those at Rainham as previously mentioned, Barnet which is close to New Barnet station, Barrow in Furness which looks close to the station, Lytham St. Annes (been there though don't know about a station?) and Rushden, possibly near the Heritage line? I'm sure others include 'Station' in the title, indeed Shotton which has been mentioned previously, comes to mind.

The 'spoons at Aberystwyth (post 10) is called "Yr Hen Orsaf", which means The Old Station.

 

[Tezza1978]

The 'Spoons opposite the long-closed Fallowfield station in south Manchester is called the Great Central - so they got the right railway this time, although the name is probably lost on most of the punters. The old station building is now part of a Sainsbury's store.

Know that Spoons well from my student days - I lived a few streets away. Busy but bland (been to far better Spoons, but also ones that are far worse!)
The old Fallowfield station used to be Bar XS - decent and cheap boozer with high ceilings and lots of original station features. Sad that its now amalgamated into the Sainsburys.

 

[duncanp]

Oh dear, the Wetherspoons at Birmingham New Street was shut yesterday due to a pigeon flying into the bar, and staff being unable to get rid of it.

Sorry for the dreadful bird related puns in the article

But the pigeon clearly thought it was welcome at a 'Featherspoon' pub and took to the cavernous roof space. From there it could take a bird's-eye view of the bar's unique carpet, designed to reflect the industrial genius of steam engineer James Watt

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/new-birmingham-wetherspoon-pub-shut

New Birmingham Wetherspoon pub shut down by a pigeon at New Street Station​

The £2.4 million Wetherspoon pub The London and North Western has been temporarily closed after just ten days of trading - bosses say it will reopen on Friday

Wetherspoon's flagship £2.4 million pub at New Street Station has been temporarily closed - after a 'rogue' pigeon flew into the bar just before lunchtime yesterday, Wednesday, November 30. Staff made valiant attempts to usher the bird out right up until the normal closing time of midnight.

But the pigeon clearly thought it was welcome at a 'Featherspoon' pub and took to the cavernous roof space. From there it could take a bird's-eye view of the bar's unique carpet, designed to reflect the industrial genius of steam engineer James Watt.

Wetherspoon staff cleared the pub at lunchtime but despite having another 12 hours to catch the bird, the pigeon remained elusive. Although it was tempted down with bits of bread, every time attempts were made to trap it the bird flew back up into the industrial rafters of the open-plan ceiling area that is one of the design features.

"It must have been a 'rogue' pigeon which had somehow got lost. This kind of situation is very unusual and we have done everything we could at first to try to persuade the bird to leave.

"The high ceiling has not helped trying to catch it. We haven't been ordered to close the pub but we took that decision immediately because the health of our customers is paramount.

"A specialist company is going to come to make sure the bird is removed and we will make sure there is a thorough clean of the premises. We anticipate to be fully open again for breakfast on Friday, December 2."

Notice​

An A4 sheet was posted on to the doors and windows of the pub on Wednesday, November 30, promising that the pub would reopen in the morning.

However the notices were still in place on Thursday, December 1, effectively saying the pub would reopen on Friday, December 2. It said: 'Due to an unforeseen circumstance we are closed but we will be open as usual tomorrow morning. Sorry for the inconvenience'.

The note then pointed customers in the direction of the next nearest Wetherspoon pubs - The Dragon Inn, Hurst Street; The Briar Rose, Bennetts Hill and The Square Peg, Corporation Street.

The new pub​

The London and North Western, which is just five minutes' walk from the Birmingham German Christmas Market along New Street and in Victoria Square has been an instant with customers.

The layout includes boothed tables, bar stools with higher tables. There are also lower-level tables with individually-styled chairs for dining.

It was busy on the morning it opened with customers who wanted breakfast because their trains had been cancelled to destinations including Blackpool. One of the attractions at the pub is that you can buy a tea or coffee for £1.35 and then have unlimited refills.

The pub has one TV screen for live football and there are two for train information. Another shows customers all areas of the pub are covered by CCTV - but the cameras have not been able to help to trap the bird.

The London and North Western is usually open daily from 7am (8am on Sundays), closing at midnight, Sunday to Thursday, and at 1am on Friday and Saturday.

 

[Mordac]

Oh dear, the Wetherspoons at Birmingham New Street was shut yesterday due to a pigeon flying into the bar, and staff being unable to get rid of it.

Sorry for the dreadful bird related puns in the article

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/new-birmingham-wetherspoon-pub-shut

I wonder if there'll be a manager's special dish tomorrow.

 

[gazzaa2]

I’m staying in Liverpool especially to tick that one off and another new one in the area next week. Popping into the North Western at Lime St is a must always. What an improvement on the hideous Head of Steam that went before it.

Looking forward to a drink at the new North Western Hotel that's due to open shortly at Lime Street. Lime Street Central and The Sanctuary are good newish pubs on Lime Street itself (less crowded than the North Western Spoons),

 

[dk1]

Looking forward to a drink at the new North Western Hotel that's due to open shortly at Lime Street. Lime Street Central and The Sanctuary are good newish pubs on Lime Street itself (less crowded than the North Western Spoons),

How do they compare price wise?

 

[Wolfie]

How do they compare price wise?

If anything like Brum the one on the station will be 20p+ dearer for most drinks

 

[dk1]

If anything like Brum the one on the station will be 20p+ dearer for most drinks

I meant the pubs on Lime St compared to the North Western Spoon.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I noticed that Wetherspoons have appeared to improve their menu, with not only Christmas items being added for this month, but also on their regular menu, I presume too. Just saw steak and kidney pudding for example.

 

[dk1]

I noticed that Wetherspoons have appeared to improve their menu, with not only Christ items being added for this month, but also on their regular menu, I presume too. Just saw steak and kidney pudding for example.

Just need to bring back the superb Lamb Shank. Cannot stand lamb personally but my Mum said it was as good as she'd had it anywhere & little more than half the price.

 

[adamello]

Just need to bring back the superb Lamb Shank. Cannot stand lamb personally but my Mum said it was as good as she'd had it anywhere & little more than half the price.

The issue is, to be as flexible and efficient as they aim to be, they are heading in the same direction as McDs for example. By that I mean that they want to create as many different menu items as possible, but with the same core ingredients. A lamb shank, for example, could only be used for one meal so would be less profitable at scale.

You notice this does also have a negative effect, when for example at Wetherspoons, if they run out of Southern Fried Chicken Strips, this wipes out a lot of meals on the menu.

 

[1D54]

if they run out of Southern Fried Chicken Strips, this wipes out a lot of meals on the menu.

And if the microwaves fail that wipes out practically everything!

 

[dk1]

And if the microwaves fail that wipes out practically everything!

You can say that for a lot of top end eateries too

 

[Wolfie]

I meant the pubs on Lime St compared to the North Western Spoon.

I know. My guess is that the same dual pricing structure will apply i.e. the station will be dearer.

 

[dk1]

I know. My guess is that the same dual pricing structure will apply i.e. the station will be dearer.

Ah okay.

With JDW even though their station outlets are obviously more expensive, they are still ridiculously good value compared to anything else close by.

 

[Wolfie]

Ah okay.

With JDW even though their station outlets are obviously more expensive, they are still ridiculously good value compared to anything else close by.

Absolutely agreed. Was in a Spoons in Central London only yesterday. Incredibly dear compared with even their outer London pubs. Brewdog Punk was still nearly £3/pint cheaper than the Brewdog pub down the road though....

 

[john prytherch]

I have not yet tried the London and North Western at Birmingham New Street. But I did notice that it is on the extreme Midland side of the station (over platforms 10 - 12 I think).

 

[Mikey C]

Absolutely agreed. Was in a Spoons in Central London only yesterday. Incredibly dear compared with even their outer London pubs. Brewdog Punk was still nearly £3/pint cheaper than the Brewdog pub down the road though....

I experienced that today. Real Ale in the Spoons at Stepney Green (only Zone 2) was a ridiculously cheap £2.39, whereas 5 stops along the District Line, in the Cannon Street Station Spoons, it was £4.39!

So massively more expensive, but still really cheap for the area.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I experienced that today. Real Ale in the Spoons at Stepney Green (only Zone 2) was a ridiculously cheap £2.39, whereas 5 stops along the District Line, in the Cannon Street Station Spoons, it was £4.39!

So massively more expensive, but still really cheap for the area.

I went to both of those fairly recently. Interesting locations.

The issue is, to be as flexible and efficient as they aim to be, they are heading in the same direction as McDs for example. By that I mean that they want to create as many different menu items as possible, but with the same core ingredients. A lamb shank, for example, could only be used for one meal so would be less profitable at scale.

You notice this does also have a negative effect, when for example at Wetherspoons, if they run out of Southern Fried Chicken Strips, this wipes out a lot of meals on the menu.

They did used to have good Sunday roasts, but did away with them some years ago which I think was a great shame. It would be good to see those bought back?

 

[Mordac]

I have not yet tried the London and North Western at Birmingham New Street. But I did notice that it is on the extreme Midland side of the station (over platforms 10 - 12 I think).

Where the John Lewis used to be.

 

[standish1]

Where the John Lewis used to be.

The Ash Tree a couple minutes walk from Ashton-u-Lyne station. Converted from old cinema,which I visted when I was young.

For those who do not like Wigan. The Moon Under the Water is a couple minutes walk from both stations

 

[Geoff DC]

They did used to have good Sunday roasts, but did away with them some years ago which I think was a great shame. It would be good to see those bought back?

Do they microwave the meat & veg separately or microwave the whole plate full ??

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Do they microwave the meat & veg separately or microwave the whole plate full ??

I don't know how they did it. It was quite nice though.