Wetherspoons Pubs List

[DelW]

Last week I joined a group of retired colleagues for a few beers in a Wetherspoons. At the start of the evening we each put a tenner into a kitty. When I left four hours later, that kitty was still going albeit much depleted - as the beers were £2.10 a pint (this in a town centre location in southern England). In any other local pub we'd have had to chip in once or even twice more by then.

The quality of the beer was fine, too, as it almost always is in 'spoons. On the odd occasion I've had a poor pint, it's been changed without question. There were three or four guest ales on, as well as the regulars.

If you've got a good, reasonably priced independent local pub, that's great. But if you haven't, or if you're travelling and want somewhere reliable, good value, with all-day food available and a decent chance of at least one interesting guest ale, Wetherspoons provide a useful option.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Everything needs your support. I'll happily frequent a Spoons however I will happily give my money to slightly pricier independents too.

 

[Runningaround]

I've never understood the adulation of a chain pub. Some claim it's saved historical buildings? saved a town centre? They may just as likely have become something else rather than a place that looks the same inside in every town and will look dilapidated again after a few years as most Wetherspoons do.

I thought if your into ticking things off a list that the rarer, more unique places would be more interesting.

I don't give a damn on the owners politics you'll probably find far more diverse and interesting opinions down a backstreet boozer off a landlord who doesn't crave the attention as much.

If you look you'll find far better than a Wetherspoons in any town from drink to food. I enjoy popping into a pub and not knowing what to expect and stuff the guides by CAMRA who offered vouchers for said chain if you joined.( Whose supporters admitted to me will back a Wetherspoons selling a few mass produced ales over an old, small, characterful local selling two), I'll make up my own mind.

You can get a better breakfast than any Wetherspoons in a local cafe, often far cheaper for what you get in a spoons, find a good one and it'll be supplied from local producers and not one who's had to reduce it's standards to match the low price a chain has negotiated it down to and normally the doorway won't be blocked by nicotine bouncers at 7am.
'' We can have a late cheap meal on Curry Tuesday''? Almost any town with a Wetherspoons will have an Indian they aren't that more expensive but you are getting a far superior service and meal.
Think of how Tesco treats its suppliers and wonder why Wetherspoons are cheap on it's Ale the Greene King size breweries can produce it's beer cheap enough( and they taste like it too) to supply pubs but at what cost to it's product will a small brewery need to?.
The odds of hitting a poor Wetherspoons is significantly higher as you aren't aiming higher than mediocre in the first place.
Some sites seem to hide themselves as a Wetherspoons, don't know why? I don't study guides or google before I enter a pub, but when caught out I soon realise my mistake as they are all the same. Menu regular beers, sticky tables, and welcoming to alcoholics at anytime of day.
The odds of hitting a bad local is getting less as they are disappearing quickly. Perhaps that's the only redeeming factor of having a Spoons it knocks out the pubs that are worse than it.

I actually had a conversation with an elderly lady from Liverpool who was disappointed that Llangollen did not have an M & S, Wetherspoons or a Greggs she'd passed a load of towns that have, if that floats her boat then why not stay there. Thank god Llangollen isn't like them it had good pubs, good cafes and a town centre unique to Llangollen, how glad am I it's not like every other dull town centre. It seems a large number of people like the familiarity of a bland mediocre experience.

The sooner the better for me. That the revival of independent locally run Coffee shops, Craft and local Real Ale pubs get joined by Bakeries, Butchers and Farmers Market can only enhance a town centre and give it individuality and make you feel you are somewhere else.

 

[AlterEgo]

People are free to boycott Wetherspoons for this reason of course, but do they seek the political views of the landlord of any other pub that they choose to visit?

No, but then you don't have to seek Martin's views. They are always printed in the magazines on the tables and he is often in the news anyway.

 

[cactustwirly]

Last week I joined a group of retired colleagues for a few beers in a Wetherspoons. At the start of the evening we each put a tenner into a kitty. When I left four hours later, that kitty was still going albeit much depleted - as the beers were £2.10 a pint (this in a town centre location in southern England). In any other local pub we'd have had to chip in once or even twice more by then.

The quality of the beer was fine, too, as it almost always is in 'spoons. On the odd occasion I've had a poor pint, it's been changed without question. There were three or four guest ales on, as well as the regulars.

If you've got a good, reasonably priced independent local pub, that's great. But if you haven't, or if you're travelling and want somewhere reliable, good value, with all-day food available and a decent chance of at least one interesting guest ale, Wetherspoons provide a useful option.

Yes, Wetherspoons is good if you want the cheapest possible pint of Carling and don't care about the surroundings.
They are very cheap for the Southeast.

Other pubs are £4.50, but the pub is so my better, even my local Greene King pub has a cozy and modern interior.

 

[DelW]

Yes, Wetherspoons is good if you want the cheapest possible pint of Carling and don't care about the surroundings.
They are very cheap for the Southeast.

Other pubs are £4.50, but the pub is so my better, even my local Greene King pub has a cozy and modern interior.

As far as I can remember, I've never drunk Carling in my life, nor do I intend ever to do so .
I was drinking one of the guest cask ales, from Windsor and Eton Brewery.

 

[Jamiescott1]

Wetherspoons has recently purchased a building in my home town (marlow).
The building is currently occupied by a shop that has a lease until 2029.
If spoons does open im not sure how well it will do. Marlow is a small town with a lot of pubs and restaurants in town centre, but then Henley has a spoons that seems to do OK.

The only time I use a spoons is at airside of an airport. I dont like the atmosphere of their pubs or the sticky tables. The app ordering is really good though

 

[Towers]

I've never understood the adulation of a chain pub. Some claim it's saved historical buildings? saved a town centre? They may just as likely have become something else rather than a place that looks the same inside in every town and will look dilapidated again after a few years as most Wetherspoons do.

I enjoy popping into a pub and not knowing what to expect and stuff the guides by CAMRA who offered vouchers for said chain if you joined.( Whose supporters admitted to me will back a Wetherspoons selling a few mass produced ales over an old, small, characterful local selling two), I'll make up my own mind.

I actually had a conversation with an elderly lady from Liverpool who was disappointed that Llangollen did not have an M & S, Wetherspoons or a Greggs she'd passed a load of towns that have, if that floats her boat then why not stay there. Thank god Llangollen isn't like them it had good pubs, good cafes and a town centre unique to Llangollen, how glad am I it's not like every other dull town centre. It seems a large number of people like the familiarity of a bland mediocre experience.

Can't really agree with much of that, I'm afraid. Take a walk through an average urban high street, most of them are decimated at the moment. A Spoons might not be anything even vaguely exotic but it'll be open and thriving, often amongst a sea of empty retail space, and that in itself is something to welcome in the current climate. They have indeed breathed life into some very nice old buildings, and in the current climate the idea that if it hadn't been Spoons somebody else would have found a use for them is rather ambitious to say the least. The high street can't find a use for its shops at the moment, let alone all manner of quirky old buildings in need of total renovation. That's a very definite Spoons speciality!

As for local boozers, if you enjoy the 'surprise' of going into one with no idea what you'll find then good luck to you, however you can be assured that there
are still plenty of ropey ones around and many that'll serve a plate of food far worse than you'll get in a Wetherspoons.

Wetherspoons are like the McDonalds of pubs; they serve a bargain product in a manner that is consistent, in an evironment that is 'known'. By and large people like that. It's why big chains like McDonalds, Costa, etc do so well. Hunting around unknown local pubs in the hope of finding a good one may be something that you enjoy, but it's a niche activity and doesn't fulfil the mass market desire for a 'safe' product that is easily accessible. Each to their own!

 

[Runningaround]

Can't really agree with much of that, I'm afraid. Take a walk through an average urban high street, most of them are decimated at the moment. A Spoons might not be anything even vaguely exotic but it'll be open and thriving, often amongst a sea of empty retail space, and that in itself is something to welcome in the current climate. They have indeed breathed life into some very nice old buildings, and in the current climate the idea that if it hadn't been Spoons somebody else would have found a use for them is rather ambitious to say the least. The high street can't find a use for its shops at the moment, let alone all manner of quirky old buildings in need of total renovation. That's a very definite Spoons speciality!

As for local boozers, if you enjoy the 'surprise' of going into one with no idea what you'll find then good luck to you, however you can be assured that there
are still plenty of ropey ones around and many that'll serve a plate of food far worse than you'll get in a Wetherspoons.

Wetherspoons are like the McDonalds of pubs; they serve a bargain product in a manner that is consistent, in an evironment that is 'known'. By and large people like that. It's why big chains like McDonalds, Costa, etc do so well. Hunting around unknown local pubs in the hope of finding a good one may be something that you enjoy, but it's a niche activity and doesn't fulfil the mass market desire for a 'safe' product that is easily accessible. Each to their own!

Too true consistent in it's bland poor product, rubbish beer served poorly without any thought on providing good service.
There is a very good reason why a quality brewery refuses to do business with Wetherspoons and that it will get shafted and risk having itself tarnished by being served by clueless staff.
The ropiest pub in town is usually the Wetherspoons the local ones that close have gone because those ropey customers are now Wetherspoons regulars. And what does every town centre with the same chains in them say about the UK? It says dull.
It serves a market that is dull and boring wanting the same everywhere they go people who are lost when thinking for themselves who need familiarity. The product is poor and not value. There isn't any value in a crap product.
And in the areas where the locals are switched on Wetherspoons are all to quick to abandon don't believe they have any consideration of the town centre they care as much as Ronald Mcdonald does about your kids health, but stick a couple of toys in a bag and you'll be back again and again.

 

[kristiang85]

I wonder if many people tick off Sam Smiths pubs? I can only drink so much Sovreign.

Whilst never a 'ticker' of Sam Smiths pubs, I did always try to seek them out.

But since the pandemic, they've completely ramped up their prices in London (perhaps understandably given the hit the industry took); but now they are pubs full of their own brand stuff at normal prices. My regular SS haunt in London used to be absolutely heaving; now its always easy to get a table, and a pint of their organic lager is £6.50 (up from around £4.50 I think). I treated myself to their stingo recently, and that was £13.50 for the bottle....

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I wonder if many people tick off Sam Smiths pubs? I can only drink so much Sovreign.

Well as we're discussing the behaviour/opinions of owning groups, I seem to recall Sam Smiths Breweries being rather difficult when that bridge in Tadcaster got destroyed by floods a few years ago. Can't recall the details but I remember reading of it at the time and deciding to avoid their pubs and ales.

 

[DarloRich]

As for local boozers, if you enjoy the 'surprise' of going into one with no idea what you'll find then good luck to you, however you can be assured that there
are still plenty of ropey ones around and many that'll serve a plate of food far worse than you'll get in a Wetherspoons.

What are you talking about? How to find a good pub:

Open good beer guide, ignore weatherspoons. Go to other pubs suggested. Enjoy nice beer.

That wasnt hard.........

 

[D6130]

It may be that Wetherspoons are the busiest pubs in a lot of moribund town centres in various parts of the country, but here in Calderdale we have a thriving independent pub scene, with a great selection of excellent ales from interesting independent breweries, served in friendly and comfortable surroundings by enthusiastic licensees and staff who know their products and are willing to suggest options to suit everyone's tastes. The local pubs which are really struggling are those where the licensees are tenants of one of the big national (or international) breweries or pub companies and are forced to pay double mark-up prices for mediocre beers through the company....as well as extortionate rents on the property. As a result, I - and most of my friends - tend to ignore all chain pubs and spend our money in the free houses, especially those which have been subject to a successful community co-operative buy-out. We have five branches of Wetherspoons in the borough - two in Halifax and one each in Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. Whenever I walk past them and glance in through the windows, they seem to be pretty quiet....but, as someone else alluded upthread, they do serve the useful function of keeping some of the less desirable clientele out of the nicer pubs. As @DarloRich says, when travelling to a new area, consult the Good Beer Guide (also available as an app.) If any members wish to visit Calderdale for a small or large pub crawl, drop me a DM and I'll be happy to act as your guide if available.

 

[Towers]

What are you talking about? How to find a good pub:

Open good beer guide, ignore weatherspoons. Go to other pubs suggested. Enjoy nice beer.

That wasnt hard.........

Not everyone requires the beer, good or otherwise!

 

[McRhu]

It may be that Wetherspoons are the busiest pubs in a lot of moribund town centres in various parts of the country, but here in Calderdale we have a thriving independent pub scene, with a great selection of excellent ales from interesting independent breweries, served in friendly and comfortable surroundings by enthusiastic licensees and staff who know their products and are willing to suggest options to suit everyone's tastes. The local pubs which are really struggling are those where the licensees are tenants of one of the big national (or international) breweries or pub companies and are forced to pay double mark-up prices for mediocre beers through the company....as well as extortionate rents on the property. As a result, I - and most of my friends - tend to ignore all chain pubs and spend our money in the free houses, especially those which have been subject to a successful community co-operative buy-out. We have five branches of Wetherspoons in the borough - two in Halifax and one each in Brighouse, Sowerby Bridge and Todmorden. Whenever I walk past them and glance in through the windows, they seem to be pretty quiet....but, as someone else alluded upthread, they do serve the useful function of keeping some of the less desirable clientele out of the nicer pubs. As @DarloRich says, when travelling to a new area, consult the Good Beer Guide (also available as an app.) If any members wish to visit Calderdale for a small or large pub crawl, drop me a DM and I'll be happy to act as your guide if available.

Have we ever been to the one in Uttoxeter? I can't remember.

 

[cactustwirly]

What are you talking about? How to find a good pub:

Open good beer guide, ignore weatherspoons. Go to other pubs suggested. Enjoy nice beer.

That wasnt hard.........

Or just use your eyes, quite obvious what a good and bad pub looks like

 

[D6130]

Not everyone requires the beer, good or otherwise!

That's very true....I've even heard that some pubs even serve tea and coffee nowadays! In fairness though, if a pub is listed in the Good Beer Guide, not only will its beer be consistently good but, usually so will its other drinks and facilities and the description in the guide will reflect its general ambience. One good thing about Wetherspoons pubs is that their toilets are generally - although not in all cases - clean and well-maintained. However, over the past five years or so they have made their toilets available to the public, as well as customers. Without going into too much detail, let's just say that that can be a mixed blessing!

Have we ever been to the one in Uttoxeter? I can't remember.

Have we had that humorous video on the forum in the past @McRhu ? If you can find it again and have the technological know-how to post it on here, this may be an opportune moment....and not entirely off-topic, I think!

 

[McRhu]

@6130.... Too big to upload I think. Very good though.

 

[317 forever]

Their food is reasonable value. It is good also getting 2 or more cups of coffee for the price of 1.

 

[Runningaround]

Their food is reasonable value. It is good also getting 2 or more cups of coffee for the price of 1.

Value doesn't just mean cheap so it's not when its rancid, how can they cook pre-made meals incorrectly? Tesco cafe will serve you something that looks cheap at least you can see the ingredients and you can get a better, cheaper beer from the shelves

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Value doesn't just mean cheap so it's not when its rancid, how can they cook pre-made meals incorrectly? Tesco cafe will serve you something that looks cheap at least you can see the ingredients and you can get a better, cheaper beer from the shelves

But if you buy your beer in Tesco then crack a tinny open in their customer café, you'll probably be asked to leave...

 

[Runningaround]

But if you buy your beer in Tesco then crack a tinny open in their customer café, you'll probably be asked to leave...

I'll pop into the car park with it then and a bag of crisps, still it'd be better service than at Wetherspoons.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Like I said that is cool. I am not having a go at anyone for going in the place ( it isn't like they are selling bombs to the Russians!)

Jagerbombs maybe...

 

[davetheguard]

Value doesn't just mean cheap so it's not when its rancid, how can they cook pre-made meals incorrectly? Tesco cafe will serve you something that looks cheap at least you can see the ingredients and you can get a better, cheaper beer from the shelves

I was once in a Wetherspoon's in Reading, a few years ago now, and the bloke in front of me at the bar ordered an omelette, only to be told "we've sold out".

This particular pub was across the road from a fair-sized Sainsbury's. "Then go over there and buy some eggs!" the customer replied. Oh no, said the Wetherspoon's bar person, we don't use eggs in our omelettes, they're pre-made.

Cheap, yes. Value, no.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I used to go into Wetherspoons but TBH, the difference between price and value began to tip. The beer wasn't that good or bad, but the quality of the food began to go probably 6/7 years ago. I mean, I know it was all pingable stuff so I wasn't expecting haute cuisine but it's just rubbish so think I bailed on eating there probably 3/4 years back.

I like a good pub. I even like a bad pub in terms of the rough and ready ones I've visited because at least there's interest and variety. 'spoons is just a Poundland for p*** artists - pile it high, flog it cheap. Going in is an utterly charmless experience.

Also, I don't go into a pub, any pub, and expect to read propaganda on whatever the publican wishes to use their platform to promote.

 

[WelshBluebird]

I was once in a Wetherspoon's in Reading, a few years ago now, and the bloke in front of me at the bar ordered an omelette, only to be told "we've sold out".

This particular pub was across the road from a fair-sized Sainsbury's. "Then go over there and buy some eggs!" the customer replied. Oh no, said the Wetherspoon's bar person, we don't use eggs in our omelettes, they're pre-made.

Cheap, yes. Value, no.

It sounds stupid but you'd be surprised how many establishments operate in the same way. And it isn't just pubs. Lots of cafe's and restaurants are like it too. Even preprepared meals are much more common than what most people would think.

 

[DarloRich]

Jagerbombs maybe...

They dont sell Jager cos jager is forin innit?

 

[Towers]

They dont sell Jager cos jager is forin innit?

Jay-ga-bombz??!!

I must confess, I've just eaten in one of Tim's establishments and it was bloody awful. Did I complain? Did I 'eck as like, I manned up, made the best of it and then ordered dessert!

 

[dk1]

It sounds stupid but you'd be surprised how many establishments operate in the same way. And it isn't just pubs. Lots of cafe's and restaurants are like it too. Even preprepared meals are much more common than what most people would think.

That would be correct. Ironic that you mention Sainsbury’s but I’ve been told their very own cafe has no omelettes left. It’s because they are pre-prepared as you say not fresh omelettes so it’s no doubt the same when Wetherspoons sold them. Not seen them on the menu for years now.

 

[Towers]

That would be correct. Ironic that you mention Sainsbury’s but I’ve been told their very own cafe has no omelettes left. It’s because they are pre-prepared as you say not fresh omelettes so it’s no doubt the same when Wetherspoons sold them. Not seen them on the menu for years now.

I'd hazard a guess that 'omelette mix' likely comes in a bottle, premixed. That isn't unreasonable really!