[News] Wetherspoons

[Weststander]

Another pre-conception about Wetherspoon's is that it is a haven of all day drinkers. Doubtless there are some, but certainly only a small minority - I popped in to my local Wetherspoon's for breakfast last week only to find the place almost empty (which it certainly usually isn't). The reason? No food because the kitchen was closed all week for refurbishing.
Later in the week I popped in for an early evening pint - and again footfall was down by at least 50%, probably more. A couple of weeks ago I stayed in a Wetherspoon's hotel (excellent room and view by the way); the pub was well filled all day - until later in the evening after they stopped serving food. Again, suddenly the pub was more than half empty.
The beer is good, as well as cheap, and yes, people do go there to drink, but I do wonder if their footfall isn't at least as much dependant on their food as the drink - and of course old men who want to go in there chat with their friends in the warm all day only have to pay £1.71 for a cup which they can refill with unlimited tea or coffee all day!

It may‘ve been The Cliftonville in George Street Hove that gave it that reputation. Pissed old folk inside and out from mid morning.

 

[Zeberdi]

Seriously, if your 'Spoons is as bad as that, write to Tim Wetherspoon - you might be surprised at how the top business man who supported Brexit will respond to that, considering how committed he is to providing a good product. Entrepreneurs with an ear to the ground, whatever next?
Try it - you might seriously get a better 'Spoons (and the large number that I've sampled are).

Isn’t there an inherent contradiction in that statement?

‘Spoons caters for the lowest denominator of the drinking public in any area - and with all chains, corporate identity goes hand in hand with corporate reputation - poor quality beer, awful food and cheap prices giving a good time out to people on low budgets who have little discernment when it comes to cuisine.

Nothing wrong with it - caters to a demographic present in most urban environments - those in the lower income brackets.

Personally, I avoid them all like the plague!

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

‘Spoons caters for the lowest denominator of the drinking public in any area.

Ooh, I wouldn't say that. There are definitely pubs I'd skirt around for a Wetherspoons in most towns/cities I've lived or worked in.

 

[alanfp]

‘Spoons caters for the lowest denominator of the drinking public in any area - and with all chains, corporate identity goes hand in hand with corporate reputation - poor quality beer, awful food and cheap prices

"Two out of three ain't bad".

The beer is NOT poor quality. And it's not out-of-date, if we can finally put that one to rest!

 

[GT49er]

Isn’t there an inherent contradiction in that statement?

‘Spoons caters for the lowest denominator of the drinking public in any area - and with all chains, corporate identity goes hand in hand with corporate reputation - poor quality beer, awful food and cheap prices giving a good time out to people on low budgets who have little discernment when it comes to cuisine.

Nothing wrong with it - caters to a demographic present in most urban environments - those in the lower income brackets.

Personally, I avoid them all like the plague!

Well, yes, that is the inveterate snob's analysis, yes. Your point is....?

 

[Zeberdi]

Well, yes, that is the inveterate snob's analysis, yes. Your point is....?

That I’m a snob?

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Seriously, if your 'Spoons is as bad as that, write to Tim Wetherspoon - you might be surprised at how the top business man who supported Brexit will respond to that, considering how committed he is to providing a good product. Entrepreneurs with an ear to the ground, whatever next?
Try it - you might seriously get a better 'Spoons (and the large number that I've sampled are).

If I had a desire to walk across town, ignoring numerous perfectly decent pubs, just to sit in Spoons, I might.
But I'm more than happy in the knowledge that Faversham's fighty blokes are congregated in one place.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I've no doubt that you can get very cheap beer there, but walking past the one at Hove station and George Street Hove and the thought of sharing a glass, or even worse, eating utensils with the clientele sat outside really didn't appeal to me. And I am given to believe that Robert Dyas next door to the one on George Street does even cheaper alcohol.

Each to their own, but not for me thanks

 

[hans kraay fan club]

I visited not one, but TWO 'spoons this last weekend.

'spoons 1 - EASTLEIGH, at 9.30am on Saturday
Small breakfast, plus 2 toast and refillable hot drink, £5.48
Food was good, value good.
Clientele mixed. Bit of a worry that at 09.30am almost every person in there was drinking pints. A lot of people were there for breakfast - but with a pint...
I'll excuse the table of 4 Warrington Wolves fans, setting themselves up for their BDO at Wembley, but the others, not so much.
I'll often have a cooked breakfast here on a Saturday, to set up the day, if I'm playing cricket, as I don't like to eat lunch just before playing. Normally sit outside in the big garden / yard, where you are well away from the all-day drinkers. Sadly the weather this week didn't allow for that (or indeed the cricket!)

'spoons 2 - SALISBURY, at 4pm on Sunday
Pint of Shipyard PA £2.99, Pint of Leffe £4.49?, 175ml Glass of Rose £3
Good value price, but my pint of Shipyard really wasn't great - inferior in taste, texture and appearance from the pint of supposedly the same product, I'd enjoyed at my local on Friday.
Grand old building. Mostly sober and 'normal' clientele (one shouty group let the place down a little).

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Good value price, but my pint of Shipyard really wasn't great - inferior in taste, texture and appearance from the pint of supposedly the same product, I'd enjoyed at my local on Friday.
Grand old building. Mostly sober and 'normal' clientele (one shouty group let the place down a little).

No comment.

 

[schmunk]

Pint of Shipyard PA £2.99,
Good value price, but my pint of Shipyard really wasn't great - inferior in taste, texture and appearance from the pint of supposedly the same product, I'd enjoyed at my local on Friday.

Shipyard "American" IPA is mass-produced me-too filth brewed in the UK by Carlsberg. There are many far better IPAs available, in Wetherspoons or otherwise.

 

[hans kraay fan club]

Shipyard "American" IPA is mass-produced me-too filth brewed in the UK by Carlsberg. There are many far better IPAs available, in Wetherspoons or otherwise.

Absolutely true. But not in my local, where my 'not lager' choices are currently Shipyard, Neck Oil, and 2 old man bitters. And not in this 'spoons at the same price and lowish %.

But my pint isn't really about whether Shipyard is a great pint - more that the pint in the local was very, very much superior to the 'spoons one. In fact had I not personally ordered both, I'd not have been prepared to believe they were the same beer at all.

 

[Whitechapel]

Isn’t there an inherent contradiction in that statement?

‘Spoons caters for the lowest denominator of the drinking public in any area - and with all chains, corporate identity goes hand in hand with corporate reputation - poor quality beer, awful food and cheap prices giving a good time out to people on low budgets who have little discernment when it comes to cuisine.

Nothing wrong with it - caters to a demographic present in most urban environments - those in the lower income brackets.

Personally, I avoid them all like the plague!

The notion that you have to be in a lower income bracket to go to/enjoy ‘Spoons is absolutely mental.

 

[Sid and the Sharknados]

Absolutely true. But not in my local, where my 'not lager' choices are currently Shipyard, Neck Oil, and 2 old man bitters. And not in this 'spoons at the same price and lowish %.

But my pint isn't really about whether Shipyard is a great pint - more that the pint in the local was very, very much superior to the 'spoons one. In fact had I not personally ordered both, I'd not have been prepared to believe they were the same beer at all.

I think sometimes it makes as big difference how much of a particular beer they happen to have served recently, like if you luck out and order a Guiness immediately after they've poured about 7 of them (the key there is to arrive at the bar just after they finish pouring and not just as the big group are ordering 7 Guinesses).

Even stuff like Carlsberg can taste noticeably better in some 'Spoons than in other places.

 

[Zeberdi]

The notion that you have to be in a lower income bracket to go to/enjoy ‘Spoons is absolutely mental.

Um I didn’t say “you have to be in a lower income group to go to/enjoy Spoons”. Nothing to stop people in a higher income bracket from having a good time at spoons if thats their thing - it’s just not mine.

I did say it attracts a low income group because it offers low cost food and drunks. Which it does.

I also said corporate chains gain corporate reputations - which (whether you agree with it or not) they do.

Not my idea of a good evening out at all - I would rather go to a good quality Indian/Italian restaurant or a quiet drink in the traditional pub up the road that sells a decent selection of real ales and wine.

(edit - I mean low cost food and drinks)

EDIT again - but we have already established I’m a snob apparently so not much I can add really (except add “mental’ now to my list of faults )

 

[schmunk]

This thread made me thirsty so I've come out to my local 'spoons in central London - lovely pint of Thornbridge Jaipur cask IPA - £3.95.

 

[Is it PotG?]

As previously mentioned, there are plenty of hipster mugs out there willing to fork out £7.50 for a Voodoo Jazz Hat.