Wetherspoons

[Bletchleyite]

As with most micro pubs the opening hours are very restricted.

I have noticed that of micropubs, I guess it's because the landlord/lady tends to want to run the business directly him/herself and so picks hours to suit.

 

[Mutant Lemming]

I have noticed that of micropubs, I guess it's because the landlord/lady tends to want to run the business directly him/herself and so picks hours to suit.

It's a case of quality over quantity though - I can wait for somewhere decent to open as opposed to joining the shuffling herd waiting outside the Wetherspoon at 9 a.m.

 

[IanD]

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.

There are about a dozen really good micro-pubs in the Eltham/Bexley/Sidcup area.

 

[IanD]

I have noticed that of micropubs, I guess it's because the landlord/lady tends to want to run the business directly him/herself and so picks hours to suit.

It also may also be a licensing condition.

 

[WestRiding]

Agreed. However they do kill of proper pubs who cant compete on price.

Not sure about that. Using Hemsworth as an example, all the pubs were rubbish run down dumps before Spoons made an appearance. None of the rubbish pubs shut down, but more actually thought, oh crap. So they all refurbished, became nice pubs, and now work to form a decent pub hot-spot for a town its size. Wetherspoon, like Tesco, actually helped to save Hemsworth Town Centre. On a wider point, if it wasn't for the likes of Tesco and Spoons, there would be no reason to go to Hemsworth. (Tesco didn't kill Hemsworth, the by-pass did. Its big companies like Spoons and Tesco that brought people back into the Centre).

 

[jon0844]

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)

The Barrel Vault isn't cheap, but it stands up fairly well to the local competition (excluding walking to a local pub away from either St Pancras or King's Cross which I suspect most people do not do). Compare to Coal Drops Yard and other new developments and Wetherspoons are still cheap.

And if you want to see how prices vary, just try a Wetherspoons at an airport!

I've had many a breakfast at St Pancras, and a new option I've found is the breakfast wrap. Under £6 with a drink, which is acceptable given a place to sit and maybe do some work before heading off somewhere. Nicer than sitting in McDonald's (not that I have anything against their own breakfast wrap meal - it's just I'd usually opt for takeaway).

 

[DarloRich]

Not sure about that. Using Hemsworth as an example, all the pubs were rubbish run down dumps before Spoons made an appearance. None of the rubbish pubs shut down, but more actually thought, oh crap. So they all refurbished, became nice pubs, and now work to form a decent pub hot-spot for a town its size. Wetherspoon, like Tesco, actually helped to save Hemsworth Town Centre. On a wider point, if it wasn't for the likes of Tesco and Spoons, there would be no reason to go to Hemsworth. (Tesco didn't kill Hemsworth, the by-pass did. Its big companies like Spoons and Tesco that brought people back into the Centre).

they sound like minor chain pubs. It i isn't those that die. It is the independents who cant match the investment in fixture and fittings or drive volume discount on booze.

 

[WestRiding]

they sound like minor chain pubs. It i isn't those that die. It is the independents who cant match the investment in fixture and fittings or drive volume discount on booze.

Might sound like. But all 3 are totally independent. One of which is a brand new Micropub, that came after Spoons.

 

[DarloRich]

Might sound like. But all 3 are totally independent. One of which is a brand new Micropub, that came after Spoons.

fair enough.

 

[Butts]

I am a regular visitor to Spoons on Christmas Day for a pre-lunch drink with my son and ex father in law.

Malt Whisky £1 extra for a double you can't beat it (single price already extremely competitive)

They used to have tables set aside for Christmas Lunches but I noticed last year that had stopped.

Is this a "local thing" or the same across the estate ?

 

[jon0844]

I am a regular visitor to Spoons on Christmas Day for a pre-lunch drink with my son and ex father in law.

Malt Whisky £1 extra for a double you can't beat it (single price already extremely competitive)

They used to have tables set aside for Christmas Lunches but I noticed last year that had stopped.

Is this a "local thing" or the same across the estate ?

The Barrel Vault at St Pancras now has a large part of the pub marked for diners only, as it was near impossible to eat there when the offices closed nearby and everyone headed there to drink. Some of the booths have been 'converted' to have single tables, as they found one person would take the entire thing otherwise.

 

[Harpers Tate]

....Christmas Lunches....stopped

I believe that the entire chain has stopped doing Xmas lunch - co-incident with them ceasing their Sunday "Roast" dinners, I think.

 

[DelW]

I believe that the entire chain has stopped doing Xmas lunch - co-incident with them ceasing their Sunday "Roast" dinners, I think.

There was a Christmas menu last year but it was very limited - a turkey slice + veg meal, and two slightly modified normal items, IIRC one was burger-based (though I might be mixing that up with Burns' night) and the other something veggie.

 

[Mag_seven]

The Barrel Vault at St Pancras now has a large part of the pub marked for diners only, as it was near impossible to eat there when the offices closed nearby and everyone headed there to drink

Aye, remember when a pub was a place you went for a pint!

 

[Spamcan81]

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)

That's £4.59 more than Fosters is worth.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I went to the new Wetherspoons opposite James Street station in Liverpool on Wednesday (opening day). Toilets are on the ground floor, same as the bar but the smoking area is outside upstairs. If people stick to it it will mean none of the smoke coming in from the front door area. Can't see the smokers schlepping up two flights of steps though when they can just nip out the front.

I went there Monday. Nothing amazing but non-sticky floors reminded me that I was in a Wetherspoon less than a month old I asked for the 2019 Wetherspoon Directory and although they didn't have one in (it might not even be out yet given last year's wasn't out until halfway through the year) the staff were very obliging. So overall a good show.

 

[greyman42]

I was in the 'Nights Templar' on Chancery Lane, central London, on Wednesday. A pint of Doombar cost £3-29 and it was spot on.

 

[trainophile]

Still say you can’t beat their steak nights, well most of the day really. Some places as cheap as £7.10 including a drink. You couldn’t buy the ingredients for that. Almost always nicely cooked to order too.

 

[route101]

Thought i start a thread on Spoons , do any of yous tick spoons?
Today i visited Carlisle , was surprised to see two spoons on the same street !
Any good spoons or bad?

 

[Leviathan]

Not sure about the railway relevance but I do tick Spoons. Technicality but Carlisle has a Spoon and a Lloyds.

There are loads within easy striking distance of a railway station so great knocking off some spotting or bashing and grabbing the occasional refreshment, at very reasonable price, at the same time.

 

[xotGD]

Several Spoons branches are located on railway stations. Leeds, for example.

Ideal place for an 8 a.m. pint before work

 

[gordonthemoron]

Leeds, Cannon Street & Liverpool Street are good

 

[Aictos]

I don’t tick off the pubs but if I’m out and about I do use them for a cheap meal and drink.

 

[youngiecj]

I used to. Got to about 300 and stopped. Too much chasing around on Railtours during short breaks stopped it for me!

 

[IanD]

There's a long thread about Spoons here https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/wetherspoons.177061/

I've been to about 300 so far, not really ticking them off but do sometimes adjust trips to fit them in if possible.

I used to think the Carlisle pubs were a bit close together but then I went to Romford and there are 2 on the same street with only a Slug and Lettuce (or some other Stonegate brand) in between

 

[ValleyLines142]

I always jot down a Spoons. My favourite is the Velvet Coaster in Blackpool.

 

[PHILIPE]

Thought i start a thread on Spoons , do any of yous tick spoons?
Today i visited Carlisle , was surprised to see two spoons on the same street !
Any good spoons or bad?

Two actually next door to each other in Derby, one being a Lloyds.

 

[xotGD]

I 'cleared' the Holdens pub in the Black Country in my younger days. Their beer mats listed all of their outlets, so could be used as a scratching list when you red-penned them. I did actually use a red pen and a beer mat to do this.

Much nicer than Spoons too!

The railway link is the "Great Western" in Wolves.

 

[RailAleFan]

The current Wetherspoon News has an interesting 4-page article on their station pubs, railway history of the locations and former use. Page 72 as printed, 38 of the PDF (21MB)...

https://www.jdwetherspoon.com/~/med...spoon-news/wetherspoon-news-winter-201920.pdf

 

[route101]

Not sure about the railway relevance but I do tick Spoons. Technicality but Carlisle has a Spoon and a Lloyds.

There are loads within easy striking distance of a railway station so great knocking off some spotting or bashing and grabbing the occasional refreshment, at very reasonable price, at the same time.

I was wondering if one of the ones in Carlisle was a lloyds but both said spoons .