Weatherspoons

I used to be a mystery shopper for places like Wetherspoons. All I can say is that the quality varies only according to who is running that particular establishment, and who is doing the cooking.

I have had good experiences in Wetherspoons, but I have also had a dinner served up to me with the previous customer's egg still on my plate. I hate fried egg !

I presume these places have food hygiene inspections?

Yes they have food hygiene inspections. Some Wetherspoons are newly/purpose built although many/ majority are older/historic refurbished establishments. Although I'm not a great fan of their pub offerings ( particularly food) their hotel rooms are actually very good and competitively priced ( premier inn or slightly better standard)

I like the old buildings they use, and to be honest I've not had a bad meal and as a vegetarian there is always something on their menu for me, shame they stopped doing the vegetable lasagna! Toilets always clean and nice.

The one in Tunbridge Wells is in a converted opera house and is flashy and fabulous. I believe there are still occasionally operas staged there.

The comments from Siope & Indigo8 are correct, so far as I know, often pretty good value for money, but don't expect anything from MasterChef?

There ARE less good varieties of the chain, and judging by the 'vox-pop' TV interviews with voters at the recent election, most of the Reform party's supporters use them?!

Hi there
We have a spoons in our town which is generally known to be a "decent "area .It has a real mix of people Wether (see what I did there ?😁) Young Families ,disabled and their carers to older age group etc .
The Manager who has been there around 20 years runs a tight ship and keep an eye on what goes on and soon sorts out any issues including asking people to leave occasionally.
My Partner and I love people watching and often spot the regulars if we pop in for an endless coffee /hot chocolate or a proper drink at the weekend .

Families with children are advised to sit at the back of the pub and generally it's respected .

In a nutshell My experience is good but I've been to some naff ones too 😁

I have never been to a Wetherspoons and most likely never will.
The one near to where I worked was known as The Sticky Carpet rather than it’s name. It also had a reputation for turning a blind eye to the age of the drinkers according to my 2 teenage sons.

I heard this lady on Radio Berkshire a few years ago who was back in Reading reminiscing about her very first visit to one.
A super fan to say the least.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-34440109#:~:text=Many%20Britons%20enjoy%20a%20visit,cap%20orders%20half%20a%20Guinness.

We ate in Wetherspoons last year, the hotel we were staying had mediocre expensive food so we decided to eat in town. It was early Sunday evening Wetherspoons was the only place open they also had mediocre food but it was cheap. As we left there was a bouncer on the door to keep the troublemakers out.

Pippa22

The one in Tunbridge Wells is in a converted opera house and is flashy and fabulous. I believe there are still occasionally operas staged there.

I understand Mr Wetherspoon deliberately tries to save old 'classic' buildings which otherwise would be modernised to death or left to rot. I like that.

I wouldn't go to Wetherspoons if you paid me - and that is saying something!!

Pippa22

The one in Tunbridge Wells is in a converted opera house and is flashy and fabulous. I believe there are still occasionally operas staged there.

The one in Colchester is an old theatre and has cutouts of famous people sitting in the balcony.

Some are great and the food is good but a recent visit to one in Derby resulted in food poisoning won't be eating there again .

keepingquiet

The best Weatherspoons is the old Winter Gardens in Harrogate- the building is awesome!
The food, however, is the same you get anywhere and so I am selective with the menu. The food in my opinion is not as good as it used to be. It is always served on the distinctive blue and white flowered plates!
The drinks are the best thing- cheap and a good choice whatever your tipple.
The toilets are always miles away from the seating area- be warned!
The reclaiming of the old buildings are what Weatherspoons do best.
Sadly often understaffed these days too.

I've been in the one in Harrogate - it's an absolutely stunning building. I'm not a great fan of Wetherspoons in general though, although my husband loves them.

Love the ones in Edinburgh.....an old bank and train waiting room.....and the one in Keswick an old police station ....the one is skipton is good too

I have been to several in my area and elsewhere,and they do vary ,although usually a positive experience. Yes,I prefer an independent cafe. That said they can be expensive. If you go to a Spoons ,especially as a group or with childeren it's good value and there will be something everyone can afford. My daughter and I used to go for weekends away and were on a budget. We eventually realised that sometimes you could go to an alternative venue ,pay a lot more,and be disappointed. Spoons may not be the first choice for people for many reasons ,which I understand, but it's a budget friendly choice and usually the food is fine. For me the b8ggest selling point is the refillable coffee./ drinks. It's good coffee and if you want to spend hours chatting, long after meal finished,I personally have never found that to be a problem. Taking in to consideration the cost of coffee in some establishments that is a bargain!

Think pepperami pizza, 12". Now guess how many small slices of pepperami they managed to throw onto it from the other side of the kitchen. Very little cheese and the tomato sauce was all but scraped off before being topped with the war time rations of cheese and meat.
We laugh about it now but try to avoid Wetherspoons. That said, we met family at a Weatherspoons for breakfast recently. Had the full English. It was expensive for what you get, but cooked OK.

They used to do salmon, salad and baked potatoes. Sadly no more so I stopped going.

In June this year I decided to try it again and had a great vegetarian meal. I like to go to our local one although it can be noisy.

On the few occasions dh and I have eaten at a Wetherspoons, we’ve found it absolutely fine. Obviously not haute cuisine, but you know what you’ll be getting - especially in an unfamiliar area.