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AIBU?

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
me4real · 28/10/2021 00:55

Which spoons were you at where the food was rancid OP? BIL and OH deserve better than you.

I've been served some pretty nasty food in them in the past @Danzig , so if OP was served nasty food that doesn't reflect on her in any way. The one my bestie and I used to go to had ok food years ago but then the quality seemed to go downhill.

JesusIsAnyNameFree · 28/10/2021 00:57

@Danzig

Which spoons were you at where the food was rancid OP?

BIL and OH deserve better than you.

Haha, what an overreaction.
sandgrown · 28/10/2021 00:57

My son used to work at Wetherspoons and I read all his training materials. Surprisingly the food is not all microwaved and there are strict instructions for cooking and presenting the various dishes . The pizzas are prepared in exactly the same way as places like Pizza Express .

MurielSpriggs · 28/10/2021 00:58

I'm an unashamed snob - Wetherspoons is foul, go somewhere nice!

RRK593 · 28/10/2021 00:58

@LadyFuschia

Nope, I agree. Just don’t like cheap food and would prefer to support an independent business while eating decent food. That doesn’t make you a snob though many people will think you are.
This!
NigelSlatersXmasTaters · 28/10/2021 01:00

"I feel the same way about Iceland. I'm not a snob , it's just everything is junk, goes off quickly and is surprisingly expensive."

Frozen food goes off quickly?

AnnListersBlister · 28/10/2021 01:03

I have been told I am a snob before now (I'm not!) but I love wetherspoons Blush.
I get a bit anxious in new places and with 'spoons, you always know what youre getting, even in a new city. I like that.

They've got great vegan options and did long before the pandemic and the huge surge in meat free options.

I feel comfortable going in one alone. I like familiarity.

I also love nice restaurants and the theatre, but I find wetherspoons great value. IfI compare it to another similar chain, Greene King, their food is very hit and miss, their kitchens are filthy (ex DP worked in two briefly) and I've sent food back twice there. I've never had anything 'rancid' in spoons. It's not michellen standard and It's not high class cuisine, but It's good for what you pay, and I like that. I've always found them friendly too.

However I DO agree some are far superior to others. Perhaps you've just been unlucky?

nanny2012nanny · 28/10/2021 01:04

Used to frequent as a student 20 years ago for a cheap meal once a week beer and burger five quid type of thing wouldn’t catch me in there now a days

Lovealovestory · 28/10/2021 01:06

@giveitarestplease you must live in my town. It really is rancid. Ex takes dd there and I cringe. dust everywhere, tables are never clean on arrival, loud drunks singing and shouting and falling over at the bar at midday.
It's alright for the beer garden for a pint in the summer but I wouldn't eat there, I don't take kids there and if they can't keep the customer facing side clean I wouldn't like to see the kitchen.
It was wonderful when it first opened. Lovely and grand. Alright food. Cheap drinks. Not now. Shame.

Fangdango · 28/10/2021 01:18

@NigelSlatersXmasTaters

"I feel the same way about Iceland. I'm not a snob , it's just everything is junk, goes off quickly and is surprisingly expensive."

Frozen food goes off quickly?

Frozen food and branded food cupboard items Hmm

There's very little fresh produce, and the Iceland specific food is mostly frozen, so I don't know how you could reach this conclusion

Cailleach1 · 28/10/2021 01:26

I wouldn't like to eat at Wetherspoon's either, given a choice. In fact, I'd prefer a poached egg or baked beans on toast than a burger joint/mcDonalds.

I could do it on the rare occasion to make friends/family happy. I'd stick to salad or something similar though. Salad veg has to be fresh.

Tagcurious · 28/10/2021 01:43

@devildeepbluesea Where do hear they exploit their staff? That hasn’t been our experience at all

OhWhyNot · 28/10/2021 01:44

I don’t mind it it’s not the best of food but at times it’s fine lots too choose from

Ones I’ve been to haven’t been dirty some do look grubby

I don’t give too much thought to what goes in on the kitchen if I did there would be very places I would eat from

Thursa · 28/10/2021 01:48

I’ve only been to one Wetherspoons, once. In the far north of Scotland, but your description is right on. I loathed it. My husband and sons loved going there for a cooked breakfast though.

Derbee · 28/10/2021 01:50

YANBU. Wetherspoons is disgusting, and that Tim Wanker or whatever he’s called is awful. I refuse to give them my money.

MobyDicksTinyCanoe · 28/10/2021 01:56

Id be replacing the S in snob with a K tbh.... Don't be surprised if you find yourself single in the near future with that ridiculous behaviour.

It's food, and their hygiene standards are pretty much guaranteed to be higher than your local caf.

TreborBore · 28/10/2021 02:04

Go for a morning coffee in Wetherspoons in my hometown and you will see alcoholics already there downing pints. The carpets are sticky and if you have a meal later on, the chips are fried in old fat. Oh and Tim whatshisface is a massive tosser, who treats his staff as disposable. Even if it was half the price of my local greasy spoon (which it isn’t actually), I wouldn’t set foot in Wetherspoons.

Tagcurious · 28/10/2021 02:05

More crap about how the staff are treated…

nettie434 · 28/10/2021 02:15

I don't think you sound snobby, giveitarestplease, just that you have different tastes to your OH and BIL. It doesn't sound as if there's a compromise place you could visit so if there's a nice cafe near the Weatherspoons, I'd separate for lunch and go to the cafe on my own next time. You could then meet up with them afterwards and have a coffee or whatever.

MintJulia · 28/10/2021 02:25

You do sound like a complete snob, and given to uninformed generalisations.

Our local Wetherspoons is one of the larger pubs on the square in our market town. It sells more bitter than Rioja, but it's clean, light, cheerful and does a reasonable (and quick) weekend brunch.

Pyewackect · 28/10/2021 02:30

@sandgrown

My son used to work at Wetherspoons and I read all his training materials. Surprisingly the food is not all microwaved and there are strict instructions for cooking and presenting the various dishes . The pizzas are prepared in exactly the same way as places like Pizza Express .
Exactly. There are two Wetherspoons in the high street near me and they are clean, extremely busy and popular with everybody. The reason is lunch at the other local eateries is £80+ !. And the food is no better plus they sting you 12% service charge and then fully expect you to leave a tip knowing that only half goes to the staff. But hey, if you want to pay £19 for a plate of pasta and £12 for a glass of supermarket wine then go aghead.
madisonbridges · 28/10/2021 02:34

We have two Wethies and they're both nice and clean.

20viona · 28/10/2021 02:36

I agree with OP

Thursa · 28/10/2021 02:59

If you go to FB watch you can search Wetherspoons and see the food being cooked in the kitchens.

GirlWithAGuitar · 28/10/2021 03:08

If you go to FB watch you can search Wetherspoons and see the food being cooked in the kitchens.

I want to use Facebook even less than I want to eat in Weatherspoons. 😬