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Drinkers in Spoons

570 replies

TheDaringOliveNewt · 14/02/2026 09:40

I'm away and at spoons having breakfast.

Every single table apart from mine has pints going, at 8.30.

Aibu thinking it's weird?

OP posts:
sittingonabeach · 14/02/2026 11:47

Not everyone goes for a pint after their day shift so not everyone is going to after a night shift

MantleStatue · 14/02/2026 11:47

I like our spoons tbh. The food is pretty good and it's cheap.

Also tbh i don't care if the owner is a Brexiteer. I'm a Remainer but it's not like he's out killing puppies. Perfectly valid political viewpoint that ended up being the majority anyway in our democracy.

99pwithaflake · 14/02/2026 11:45

titchy · 14/02/2026 11:44

Tbh I think going to Spoons for breakfast is weird, unless you’re very young. 🤷‍♀️

Why? It's cheap, good value and filling.

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:45

'Generally morning pub drinkers are people coming off night shifts. So 8am is their is their Friday night..'

This repeated story about night shift workers is just not true. I worked shifts years ago for a massive organisation and believe me after a night shift everyone wanted to get home to bed. There was no pints at 8am, well maybe for those with drink problems but for the most part no. 8am was not party time.

titchy · 14/02/2026 11:44

Tbh I think going to Spoons for breakfast is weird, unless you’re very young. 🤷‍♀️

MyBestThing · 14/02/2026 11:44

I only discovered Spoons recently. I've been going to a smart little market town every week over lunchtime. I've tried every fancy cafe and coffee shop and not found one I really like. Almost all have been under heated so you don't feel warm enough to take your coat off. They serve sandwiches with crisps which is a crime imo. Often the posh bread "artisan sourdough" is rock hard and the coffee is lukewarm. Staff who are at best indifferent.
I tried Spoons one day and what a contrast. Warm, comfortable seats, every member of staff smiling and helpful (I was with a friend on crutches). The food is perfectly average pub food, dead cheap and endless mugs of tea. I didn't notice whether other people were drinking beer but it definitely felt more like a cafe than a pub, except warmer!

99pwithaflake · 14/02/2026 11:43

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:41

Drinking in the morning is bad whether it is prosecco or beer. Obviously.

What's the difference between drinking at 8am or 8pm? Your body doesn't react differently because it's am!

DenizenOfAisleOfShame · 14/02/2026 11:43

The Spanish are very partial to Cava at breakfast.

Damn those alkie Spaniards and their boozy ways!

I wouldn’t be surprised if many cultures drink alcohol early in the day quite normally.

Treesnthings · 14/02/2026 11:42

As an Irish person who visits UK fairly regularly I think Premier Inns and Wetherspoons are amazing, fairly reliable and great value. We’ve visited for funerals on a few occasions (sign of my age,) and found them great for family meals / lunches etc at a time when you just want to be together in a big group, sometimes in suburban locations, relax, and not be fussed over! Wetherspoons ( ones I’ve been to) cater well for vegan and vegetarian and the prices are amazing for what you get. That’s my outsiders opinion!

youalright · 14/02/2026 11:41

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:41

Drinking in the morning is bad whether it is prosecco or beer. Obviously.

Why?

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:41

99pwithaflake · 14/02/2026 11:36

It makes me laugh how MN will sneer at people who have a beer with breakfast, but the same posters are quite happy to knock back Prosecco at the same time with their "bottomless brunch".

Drinking in the morning is bad whether it is prosecco or beer. Obviously.

Ginmonkeyagain · 14/02/2026 11:40

Ha ha- we go to a small town on the South French coast every year and often get breakfast at a workers cafe in a covered food market - there are always a number of people having what we call "breakfast wine" a 125ml glass of white wine to set up their day. I am sure people here think it is charming and sophisticated - necuase French.

Generally morning pub drinkers are people coming off night shifts. So 8am is their is their Friday night.. I walk past a pub on my way to the office that opens 6am - 9am, it is near a market, major hospital and rail teminus - you see a mix of market traders, HCPs and rail engineers having a post shift drink.

KeepOffTheQuinoa · 14/02/2026 11:38

People who work nights often have a pint in Spoons with their night-working mates before going home.

Tne Spoons near me is clean, recently refurbished, has a great friendly community atmosphere, the toilets are spotless and I’d rather spend £1-99 on a good pint that £7. And the price difference for wines and spirits is even more marked.

I don’t really rate the food, and don’t eat there, but it is cheaper than McDonald's, for example and the fish and chips is v good.

TaraC25 · 14/02/2026 11:36

TheDaringOliveNewt · 14/02/2026 11:12

Drinking at 8.30? By yourself because football is on? Why all spoons open at 8am every day and full of drinkers (reading the room)

Why are you so bothred/curious about others lifestyle choices though? It doesn't directly affect you if some people choose to drink at 9am

99pwithaflake · 14/02/2026 11:36

It makes me laugh how MN will sneer at people who have a beer with breakfast, but the same posters are quite happy to knock back Prosecco at the same time with their "bottomless brunch".

Bromptotoo · 14/02/2026 11:35

BiscoffCheesecakes · 14/02/2026 09:54

I've never noticed this at our local Spoons at breakfast. A couple of people but most are drinking free refills of coffee/tea

It varies by location, even in the same city.

DD was a Sheff Hallam Uni. 'Spoons nearby was mostly families, a lot of them parents with students.

City centre version was far more patronised by older men drinking alone.

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 14/02/2026 11:34

Thepeopleversuswork · 14/02/2026 10:30

Nothing to do with snobbery: Spoons is just not a nice environment. Food can be OK but all the furnishings and fittings are icky, everything seems tired and cheap and there are always, without fail, annoying pissheads in there when you are trying to eat. Plus the man who owns it is an exploitative right wing twat.

What’s wrong with a greasy spoon if you want a good cheap breakfast?

Nothing is wrong with a greasy spoon if you want a nice cheap breakfast. I don’t think most of them serve pints though do they? The OP was about people drinking in the morning. Thats snobbery.

Agree about avoiding lining the pockets of Tim Martin though.

Catwalking · 14/02/2026 11:34

TheDaringOliveNewt · 14/02/2026 09:40

I'm away and at spoons having breakfast.

Every single table apart from mine has pints going, at 8.30.

Aibu thinking it's weird?

maybe they’re zero alcohol???!

TaraC25 · 14/02/2026 11:34

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:21

We wouldn't we judge alkies? Nothing to do with the grace of God. Drinking at 8.30am is never a good thing. Post night shift, holibobs whatever. If they drink at that time they have a drink problem.

Well there are various reasons, as PPs have mentioned.

But ultimately, people have autonomy. IF an alcoholic wants to quit drinking, there is help available.

I can guarantee that every one of us on this planet has at some point done something that someone else would deem reckless/careless/selfish etc... People have a choice.

It is human nature to judge. But it's also possible to pause, keep an open mind and give people respect for their autonomy - regardless of what you 'see' or label them as... We are all human and everyone has a story to tell.

MantleStatue · 14/02/2026 11:34

Our local spoons doesn't serve alcohol until 9. I used to do 4 am to 9.30 am stacking shelves for a supermarket. Often went to Spoons with a colleague or two for a full English and drink of choice.

TBH it's only social convention that says you shouldn't drink alcohol in the morning. And not everywhere either. I used to live in Eastern Europe and a standard breakfast on the way to work would be a slice of bread, butter, ham or cheese and a small glass of brandy. Happy days.

Coffeeishot · 14/02/2026 11:34

I am assuming it is an English pub selling pints at 8.30 ?

youalright · 14/02/2026 11:32

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:31

At 8.30am?!

I'm surprised we don't have laws banning the sale of booze at that time. Alkies will drink wherever but providing a venue for them likes this enables the 'social drinking' excuse.

Most if not all don't serve alcohol before 9am

Hlglu56 · 14/02/2026 11:32

Used to work there and they’d be alcoholics waiting at the door with a bag full of pennies to pay for their pints. Very sad.

Gloriia · 14/02/2026 11:31

AquaLeader · 14/02/2026 11:28

Pints in Wetherspoons? Whatever next.

Those drinking pints in Wetherspoons are probably baffled why you chose Wetherspoons when you just wanted breakfast.

At 8.30am?!

I'm surprised we don't have laws banning the sale of booze at that time. Alkies will drink wherever but providing a venue for them likes this enables the 'social drinking' excuse.

Coffeeishot · 14/02/2026 11:31

TheDaringOliveNewt · 14/02/2026 09:44

Why would you go to a pub by yourself at 8am. Alcohol is expensive and the effort of going outside lol

Surely you are in a pub for cheap food what did you expect ?