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Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to eat in Wetherspoons?

617 replies

giveitarestplease · 27/10/2021 23:13

Popped out with BIL and OH today, I absolutely despise Wetherspoons but they love a bargain and aren't too fussy.

I'm not a snob in anyway shape or form I just can't stand it. I eventually went with them and sat in there and waited until they finished.

I just hate the old dirty pubs and how fast the rancid food comes out 🤢 the alcoholics that have been sat there since the moment they opened the doors on the morning.

I'd much rather go to one of our local independent cafes and have a nice lunch and I know it's not coming out of the microwave. I know it's not the same price bracket but you know what I mean.

They always laugh and joke and call me a snob and say I think I'm better than everyone else. But I'm really not and I don't think that.

OP posts:
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19
Suzanne999 · 29/10/2021 17:44

@TimeForTeaAndG

I'm with you. Though I also now don't frequent Wethersoons because Tim whatshisname is a dickhead who doesn't deserve my hard earned cash.
I wouldn’t go in there for same reason. Much rather support an independent in the high street and they don’t have to be posh.
Frazzledstar1 · 29/10/2021 17:47

Wetherspoons wouldn’t exactly be my first choice, it’s cheap and cheerful for a reason, but that fact you sat there and didn’t eat does seem a bit snobbish. I’d have just ordered a panini and got over it. You can’t really go wrong with a bit of toasted bread and cheese surely?

thistimelastweek · 29/10/2021 17:57

I have never been in a Wetherspoons that didn't have a sticky carpet

However, Tim Martin is the reason I won't ever spend money in one. (I do sometimes sneak in to use their loos. )

mellicauli · 29/10/2021 18:02

I guess that's her point..a panini from a Wetherspoons is not very nice. You need to keep it simple, never foreign, never healthy, never cold: burger, fish and chips, Full English Breakfast.

Againstmachine · 29/10/2021 18:03

For those who talk about his politics, do you find out every place or pubs you go in politics.

Do you know green king is owned by a Hong Kong businessman and registered in Caymans, Stonegate who own pubs such as Yates is also registered in Caymans. At least wetherspoons pays tax.

I'm no big fan of spoons I've got some lovely independents or owned by local breweries near me.

masterblaster · 29/10/2021 18:04

Cheap beer for cheap people.

DaisyStiener · 29/10/2021 18:07

DM hates Spoons but I don’t mind a wee cheeky spoons ! Had a spoons yesterday with my veggie DS and she thoroughly enjoyed her pasta!
I don’t think the food is bad at all ?
Rather there ,than KFC etc
Better than the absolutely disgusting GreeneKing pubs. They are actually rank. £8 for a pizza that would pale in comparison to a school dinner pizza
The 3 for £11 plates are great!

restingbitchface30 · 29/10/2021 18:08

You sound a bit snooty. Have you tried a wetherspoons pizza?! They’re so good!

RampantIvy · 29/10/2021 18:08

Wetherspoons is a dive

Let me correct you there - SOME Wetherspoon pubs are dives. Some other, non Wetherspoon pubs are also dives. Many other Wetherspoon pubs are not dives.

I have never been in a Wetherspoons that didn't have a sticky carpet

It’s funny how many mumsnetters have only been into sticky carpet Wetherspoons that are full of drunks and sell rancid food. If they had bothered reading other posts on this thread they would see that not all Wetherspoons are the same.

Personally, I prefer to support independent pubs that are not part of a chain.

Suja1 · 29/10/2021 18:08

Wouldn't contribute any money towards their appalling owner. So it's a no from me.

IncessantNameChanger · 29/10/2021 18:12

I take the kids occasionally. The one in Ramsgate doesnt even have a carpet if that helps. It is what is. I do think some people live in there tbh.

I have had lunch in the Ritz, Clarages & Fortnum and Mason and there are plenty of people would wouldnt be seen dead in there either.

We have just had a chain cafe open in town open up which has enraged people too. It's not my choice of hill to die on. Sometimes I want Class and sometimes I slum it. Unless it's my pet peeve I dont care about the owners political stance either. We all have a hill to die on. Cheap budget puds instant my hill of choice.

notafriggingain · 29/10/2021 18:16

@giveitarestplease

I'm not pretentious though because I will happily have a Greggs or get a jacket potato from the van in town. I just don't like spoons.
Are you from Coventry? Because I won't eat there either Grin
Drivingslowtosavefuel · 29/10/2021 18:16

YANBU. Would rather eat elsewhere or make my own packed lunch than buy uninspiring food at Spoons

pbvincent · 29/10/2021 18:17

Quite often like the architecture, and prior to Artisan cider being all the rage with certain types of drinkers, Spoons certainly kept the cider industry front and centre for a few years, but overall not my kind of place.

What I would say is that prior to lockdown they had a really excellent children's menu. with full calorie, sugar and fat content explanations for all dishes. This hasn't returned post lockdown,
So, lots to be not snobby about

Angie1403 · 29/10/2021 18:22

I agree with you OP. I don’t want to pay shop prices for something I could throw in the micro at home for a third of the price. Would prefer a gastro pub or cafe for the sake of spending an extra fiver to eat fresh food that I’m not a good enough cook to create myself! I really appreciate nice food and I love to eat. If I’m going to spend my dosh eating out, I want it to be lovely. Plus, I don’t know a single cafe or gastro in our area that doesn’t offer alcohol so yeah, I think going elsewhere and not supporting the tosspot that owns it would have still meant the boys got a pint and you got a decent plate of nosh! It’s not snobby to care about what you’re eating and I suspect a lot of the folks who say you are a snob might be the ones who like their chips piled high and don’t mind a greasy sausage!

Anitarest · 29/10/2021 18:23

Don’t see the point of sitting there. If there’s somewhere I don’t want to go, I don’t go. There isn’t a Wetherspoons near us so I don’t know about the carpets-sticky it not. I’m not faced with the problem, but sitting watching other people eat in a place you don’t want to be is crazy.

Beastieboys · 29/10/2021 18:24

Obviously never been in the kitchens of some of those "nice" cafes and independants have you........ Otherwise you wouldn't be such smug character...... There's as many "ping" machines, mass produced "home made produce" and "homemade cakes" as in any wetherspoons!...... We got an invite to a food fair hosted by a well known local food producer and were amazed and might I say horrified at the amount of food being sold that local traders and cafes have been passing off as "homemade" when in reality they had come from a mass produced factory up the road!! Hypocrites......

notoldjustpastyoung · 29/10/2021 18:29

I've only ever known on scruffy Weatherspoons and that's had a make-over. Never ever had anything but delish food certainly not out of the microwave. Always good service. I don't go for fancy pubs a good old fashioned one is OK. And if you go to any village pub out in the country anywhere it will always have the regular old stalwarts who've been keeping the pub going forever. Yes you are a snob and BU

InFiveMins · 29/10/2021 18:33

To be fair OP I would never choose to eat there!

ilovemygirls · 29/10/2021 18:35

You just live in Herefordshire - all of them here are rank! Especially the one in Leominster!

ilovemygirls · 29/10/2021 18:35

*Must, not just!

DanceIndiaDance · 29/10/2021 18:39

The only thing that I can definitely say about a spoons is that they all feature toilets that take you on a small hiking trip to get to.

I agree though, I'm not a spoons fan but, where i live, there are none locally and more accustomed to indie restaurants as that's all that's local. We don't even have Uber or deliveroo!😂

stealingbeauty · 29/10/2021 18:41

I wouldn’t choose to eat there but I’d join people if they wanted to go there. I’d be happy with scampi and chips or a pizza.

Vynalbob · 29/10/2021 18:42

You are not being a snob.
I used to go occasionally but have stopped
Guess the reason....
Hate the boss politics?
Hate that they treat staff like sports direct?
Can't stand sticking to the carpet?
They use frozen ingredients & microwave?

No what tipped me over the edge, before I knew most of the other stuff was getting raging food poisoning (both ends bad) (was the only possible variation in my diet compared to others).
What was worse was I was given advice by a doctor many years before not to take immodium as it mucks up trading standards testing.... and I forgot.
Best advice if you go.... don't take immodium until you test... if/when needed.

Good Luck all

HikingforScenery · 29/10/2021 18:47

I’ve been invited to two different ones as far as I can remember. I enjoyed the company of the people I was with. Both places had terrible food.

I’ve never been to my local one but it looks like the right place to get leathered. I’ve seen quite a few patrons walk out doing the funny, almost dizzy walk.