To not understand snobbery against Wetherspoons?

[CatsArePeople]

They're really ok. Certainly not worse than McDonalds or your local greasy spoon.

@3teens2cats in 3 years I was never once treated badly. I've worked several jobs since from another (non-pub) chain and a low level office job and was treated worse in both. Spoons are pretty you know where you stand, fair and everything you need to know is easy to find through the online portal.

They can be rough but I have been in some lovely ones. The one in my home town is in a converted Methodist chapel, and is rather nice. The Wetherspoons owner on the other hand is a complete tool.

I accept ds may have just had a bad manager and not every branch would be the same but it has still tainted the company for me I'm afraid. I'm pleased not everyone had the same experience.

It's not the pubs themselves.... It's the owner who by his actions and beliefs is a dreadful person.

They buy the beer no one else wants; end of batch with no shelf life. That’s why it’s so cheap (and awful).

I was tempted there for the ‘beer festival’ and I’ve never been so disappointed. Vile, watery, tasteless beer. Yeah £1.99 a pint but I’d rather drink tap water.

The business model is awful for the surrounding pubs, no one can compete with their prices. But then no one else would serve the swill they do.

They are a haven for alcoholics who don’t care what they drink so long as it’s got booze in it.

It's great and so cheap

@rachelvbwho

The CEO is a horrible person and I completely disagree with the way he has run his business and treated his staff around Covid and Brexit.

I can't speak for all Wetherspoons but the cheap prices of been in the one local to me attracts a lot of people to start drinking from early in the day who generally just sit there drinking cheap booze all day/every day. Meaning it isn't the nicest place to go as a woman, family or group of friends....

This

@DynamiteFilledRadish

CEO is vile and treated his staff atrociously when pubs were closed. I won't support a business that doesn't value its employees

Again, no he didn't. Every single one of the published press corrections are available online.

Is that you Tim?

Why would I give my hard earned to a multimillionaire who campaigned hard to make me and the country poorer through his beloved Brexit?

Lots of companies have shitty ceos, I'm sure people don't boycott all of them on that basis. Completely understandable not to like the pubs themselves though, I think it depends on the one to be honest, I enjoyed going when younger and wouldn't mind going for lunch now but wouldn't fancy it in there evening.

Our local one is horrible but exH used to be a manager for them in London and he worked in some nice ones (and some aaawwwfffuuul ones) I used to use them quite a lot when travelling the UK for work as they were cheap and reasonably reliable. But Tim Martin's views and practices have put me off, haven't been to one for a few years and can't bear the idea of putting money in that Brexity toad's pocket.

They used to be brilliant in the 1990s but the food is terrible now and many of them are run-down and grubby-looking. I'd just as soon not give money to raging Brexiteers, anyway.

It would appear that most mumsnetters are only too happy to tar all Spoons pubs with the same brush and absolutely refuse to believe that some are better than others. They want to believe that they are all murky dives populated with the dregs of society, and nothing will convince them otherwise.

I voted remain, but I'm pretty sure that the landlord of our local (independent) pub didn't, and I'm pretty sure that the CEOs of many businesses didn't either, so to me that is not an excuse to avoid darkening their doors.

DH is a real ale drinker and says that Spoons look after their beer very well. He has had the odd dodgy pint there, but he has also had the odd dodgy pint in other pubs. In both cases they have been happy to pull another one for him.

They really vary in London. Some are grim. Some are okay. The only nice ones I have been to are outside London. They definitely are not all the same.

It's nice if you like alcoholics.

The one in Angel in London is in a gorgeous old theatre building, but it's disgusting inside

Loving that Wetherspoons HR/PR are clearly on here.

The poster who said about the toilets being in the next county - so true.

I tend to go in with work friends for a drink or with family for breakfast (I'd have the eggs Benedict if it were any good but tend to just have a coffee) I miss those Sunday veggie roasts they used to do. They were filthy but good.

I like the app ordering system. I like the range and price of drinks. I like many of the buildings. The pizzas are surprisingly good.

I dislike that they are often so dirty you perch on those stupid high chairs but don't want to put a coat or bag down. I don't want the right wing propaganda left on tables. I don't need politics with my pizza.

I voted remain, but I'm pretty sure that the landlord of our local (independent) pub didn't.

The difference is the landlord in my local quite rightly kept his opinions to himself, and couldn't use his business power to persuade huge numbers of pissed, disaffected people to his way of thinking.

@Marmelace

You would need to walk through a wall of smokers to even enter the one where I live.

Yep And the type of men who shout “nice tits” at your 13 year old daughter. People generally cross the road to avoid walking past the people outside ours I appreciate that other Wetherspoons may not be the same but the owner is a Dick in any case

Tory Brexit bastards.

We have a few in our city. Some are better than others.

It's not my type of place generally but have been in one or two for a cheap breakfast or lunch before.

19y dd and her friends go in a couple of our local ones a fair bit. There are some they'd never go to - known as being rough, dodgy clientele, attracts the more aggressive types and also those who like to drink heavily all day from opening time. However, the couple they tend to go to is a younger, student clientele. It was great in restrictions for them as one has a large outdoor area where they could meet. It's cheap and cheerful, nothing fancy but does what it says.

I know there are some issues regarding the ceo etc but that is often the same for a lot of these large companies who rely in their cheap prices. And not all are run the same - my colleagues son works for one locally during sixth firm and university days, inc throughout covid,and has always been very positive about it, so much may also be down to individual managers, etc. I know some of the negativity reported had to be retracted but can't remember the details.

So, whilst I don't tend to go there I fully understand why dd and her mates do. It's quite fun being able to send dd and friends a bottle of wine to her table when she's having a night out from the comfort of my own home too :)

Our local one is lovely, like a Harvester more than a pub. Mothers and babies and people meeting for breakfast and a coffee until after midday then the drinkers come in but it's never rowdy. Gets lively at night. Gorgeous garden too which is lovely in the summer.

Loving that Wetherspoons HR/PR are clearly on here

Oh do give over.
I've made multiple posts on here simply as a reformed ex-snob.

I hate unthinking generalisations and plain lies. I could easily say that half the posters on here have probably never crossed the threshold of a Wetherspoons, but I'm prepared to believe that some of their pubs are rough (though I'm guessing that's to do with the area they're in, not the chain itself)

I also hate with a vengeance, false, malicious news, especially when it becomes fact in 99% of the public's mind, and I will ALWAYS challenge that, however much I despise the politics of the person involved (Jeeeze, I even found myself defending Boris Johnson on something yesterday. Then I needed a shower).

The 'spoons I've visited have been good. My beer loving friend thinks they have an amazing selection of beers and look after them well. My friend's son had a vert positive experience working there. I love what they've done to some amazing and previously neglected buildings. I'm not a fan of the type of food they serve, though the breakfast and unending coffee is fab.

I do not work for Wetherspoons. It's lazy to dismiss opinions you don't agree with by making comments like that.

@LittleMG

Tory Brexit bastards.

Do you check to find out the politics of the owners of every pub and restaurant you go into?

@Halfabag

Why tf does it bother any of you that there may be people drinking at any time of the day? If the people aren’t bothering you, don’t be so quick to judge. I’m teetotal but was a barmaid and people have all sorts of reasons. We live a 24 hour lifestyle in uk cities now. There are so many people on night shift or backshift so they come in at different times. You tend to get a lot of older men. Quite often lonely widowers just wanting to be less alone. Retired etc. Unless they are causing an actual reason for complaint, don’t be a judgmental arsehole!

Well said.

There’s a really lovely Wetherspoons near me, food is amazing, building is beautiful, clientele are respectful and polite towards other customers and it’s clean.

I can’t bring myself to eat in there any more though because of the CEO. He’s so bloody vile.