Wetherspoon general discussion.

[Shadowness]

I’ve been to pubs where the landlords work hard to keep a good pint and it’s a different league to a spoons.

It is, but that's to appeal to a different clientele imo.

Spoon's customers just want cheap macro crap, not 'craft' or anything remotely flavourful. That's why they do well, because a lot of people want that. And their food is ridiculously cheap. (at least it was, wouldn't catch me dead in one as I like good beer)

 

[Zefan]

Love me a witherspoons

 

[BUDFORCE]

Hmmm.

Food you can say what you want, I don't mind it personally it's cheap and cheerful, but yes far from fine dining, I don't think anyone can argue that.

However Spoons has great beer, outside of specialist places, Spoons beer is better than about 95% of any pubs I've been to, most will do local breweries, for example my local often has Oakham Ales ones, their Citra for example is really nice.

That one in Bexhill I was drinking cans of whatever local IPA it was and it was bloody gorgeous.

Plus it's cheap.

Most pubs want £6 for a pint of mass produced Northampton canal water, if you are the type that thinks Birra Moretti is worth paying that for maybe Spoons isn't for you anyway.

 

[ColdAsIce]

The Standing Order in Edinburgh is pretty impressive - main bar area is an old bank I believe.

The Caley Picture House in Edinburgh is the flagship for the City now. Much nicer than the Standing Order, although sometimes you cannot beat the Standing Order for a bit more atmosphere.

 

[ColdAsIce]

Wetherspoons has always been a last resort for me.
It’s a pub with generally awful patrons, mediocre food and poor selection of beer.

Poor selection of Beers? really? Maybe it's different City to City but they have different Ales on tap weekly and a load of different Lagers/Ciders on both tap and bottle.

 

[Shadowness]

I would agree the selection does appear to be big. It's just mainly the huge breweries that can afford to have lower margins and sell to Spoons.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

True story bro
When we were in the Counting House Glasgow we thought we witnessed our first drunk in a Wetherspoon but when I went to the toilet he came in and I realised he'd got tourettes

 

[Brazo]

That one in Bexhill I was drinking cans of whatever local IPA it was and it was bloody gorgeous.

Plus it's cheap.

Most pubs want £6 for a pint of mass produced Northampton canal water, if you are the type that thinks Birra Moretti is worth paying that for maybe Spoons isn't for you anyway.

It is cheap yes, but that also goes a long way in determining who drinks there.

I’m sure Spoons ‘can’ keep a good ‘can’!! See what I did there

I’m with you on the mass produced crap but many ‘craft’ brands now fall into that category sadly.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

It is cheap yes, but that also goes a long way in determining who drinks there.

£2.99 for a pint of Guiness that tastes exactly the same as a normal pub for £5+.
Yes I'm that type of person who likes to save money being a pensioner.

 

[robfosters]

Not all their food is microwaved. Their fish and chips are deep fried as normal, burgers and eggs are grilled, breakfast items are cooked and held in a hot hold, beans are micro’d.

Steak is cooked on a flame grill, pizzas are oven baked, curries are micro’d. Paninis cooked fresh

 

[Hagar]

It is, but that's to appeal to a different clientele imo.

Spoon's customers just want cheap macro crap, not 'craft' or anything remotely flavourful. That's why they do well, because a lot of people want that. And their food is ridiculously cheap. (at least it was, wouldn't catch me dead in one as I like good beer)

Wetherspoons customers are a mixed bag from the old to the young. Students seem to get their evening meal there most times I have been in after shopping in Chester or Shrewsbury. A very good fried fish and chips with a pint thrown in for under a tenner who is to moan. The beer variety is good as well better than many pubs at twice the price. The plates could be warmer my only and usual complaint.

I do like a good northern pub without TV on tap but for trips into town shopping, Wetherspoons is very hard to beat.

 

[Terminal_Boy]

True story bro
When we were in the Counting House Glasgow we thought we witnessed our first drunk in a Wetherspoon but when I went to the toilet he came in and I realised he'd got tourettes

How did you tell him apart from the other drunks spouting gibberish? I need subtitles with sober Glaswegians.

 

[SexyGreyFox]

How did you tell him apart from the other drunks spouting gibberish? I need subtitles with sober Glaswegians.

200+ Spoons and I've never seen drunks in any of them.
I also find them to be the most safest drinking establishments compared to normal pubs.

 

[Rai200]

200+ Spoons and I've never seen drunks in any of them.
I also find them to be the most safest drinking establishments compared to normal pubs.

The thing about drunks is they're very good at drinking...

 

[SexyGreyFox]

The thing about drunks is they're very good at drinking...

Exactly and not like a group of young men who don't know how to drink.

 

[iamdjdz]

Harrogate Wetherspoons is indeed very nice, and had some decent beers on tap. Had a Rudgate Brewery Loki's mischief there which was pleasant.

My local Wetherspoons on the other hand has a great building but I went there for lunch on my birthday one random Tuesday a few years ago and had to break up a fight to get out the door.

 

[Grimley]

The 'spoons where I live are nothing special. They are OK if you want a quick meal & a drink. I thought the one on the Main drag in Scarborough when I was up that way in February this year was rougher than 60 grade sandpaper.

 

[tom_e]

200+ Spoons and I've never seen drunks in any of them.
I also find them to be the most safest drinking establishments compared to normal pubs.

Now I do enjoy a good spoons and generally they aren't terrible establishments but I'm not sure how you've managed to drink in 200+ and never seen a drunk.

Is this like the if you don't notice the drunk then it must be you?

 

[SexyGreyFox]

Now I do enjoy a good spoons and generally they aren't terrible establishments but I'm not sure how you've managed to drink in 200+ and never seen a drunk.

Is this like the if you don't notice the drunk then it must be you?

Well somebody said above, proper drunks are excellent at hiding their drunkeness unlike younger men who start shouting and arguing, so basically I will re-write my statement:
I've never been in a Spoons where rowdy argumentative drunks have been seen.

 

[Lopéz]

Wetherspoons has always been a last resort for me.
It’s a pub with generally awful patrons, mediocre food and poor selection of beer.

I would agree the selection does appear to be big. It's just mainly the huge breweries that can afford to have lower margins and sell to Spoons.

My local Wetherspoons (or rather, the one that was my local when I lived in the UK) currently offers 56 beers of various types, I'm sure even your discerning selves could find something appealing from that.