To praise Wetherspoons

[itsnotmeitsu]

And no, I've not been to one tonight. I've spent the day on my own, at home. But when I visit it's always the same one, which is in a lovely listed building. As a caveat, I only go there on a Sunday lunchtime, so can't account for what it's like on a Friday/Saturday night.

The pub chain seems to have a bad reputation, but from what I've seen it can be a place for those, who would otherwise feel very isolated, to find a bit of life and get outside of their home, whilst being able to afford the drink and food prices. I would feel comfortable to spend time in the couple of Wetherspoons I know of as a woman on my own, or an elderly person just wanting to be in a social atmosphere, reading a book and having a cheap drink, or topping up my endless cups of coffee or tea, and not be sitting at home feeling like I was the only person in the world.

My older teens go to Wetherspoons a fair amount for either drinks, dinner or even to study (DD at uni in a city with about 5 of them). Cheap and the food is ok. The ones near me are always busy - I'm surprised so many shut down tbh.

I love a Spoons, especially the one at Camden Lock.

I can sit outside with a bottomless coffee and watch the boats/tourists passing by.

My local weatherspoons is like this.
I go with my child but there always seems to be a good social scene of the more mature in there. They have bingo days and other social events going on.
It always seems a nice place to socialise.

I am a super fan. Often think I should work for the brand!
I always feel they know drink!- which is actually often overlooked in some pubs- bizarrely! Wetherspoons gives you the correct glass- and a beer mat! I love them!

I love Spoons. Our local one actually has ground floor toilets!! Many I have visited though tend to have toilets up 3 flights of stairs and a mile of corridors 🤣🤣

@AuraBora > We've learned to use the loo and get the condiments before we order food. It comes out so quickly! I know we're not getting gourmet food, but it's hot and I've tasted worse when it's been much more expensive.

Ironically the people who sneer at them are exactly the sort of people who deplore the lack of community centres...which is kind if what they are

I love my local ‘spoons. Just across the street - it’s like my second living room

The day wetherspoons goes will be a sad day for our country

My teenage son & his friends visits Spoons often, no problems & affordable drink, win win

I do like that they preserve a lot of buildings that otherwise would remain neglected or disused.

I love Wetherspoons. We have breakfast there every Sunday before church.

The food is disgusting, the drinks are trash, and it's run by a total cunt.

There are plenty of independent or small chain places that deserve your business a lot more.

It does what it says on the tin. Life is too short to hate an entire pub chain.

Agree OP. We visit 'spoons' regularly all over, wherever we are. When I retire I'll be visiting as many as possible. Their magazine is full of interesting info, and some of their staff in the mags have really interesting stories, definitely worth a read.

I'd happily walk into spoonies alone as a mature woman, and think nothing of it!

We love Spoons...the food is absolutely fine, always consistent and as tasty as other family pubs with food, drinks are exactly the same as anywhere else but cheaper.
There's one right outside our regular baby Gym and we often take the kids afterwards.

When they started over 30 years ago the reputation was for cheap drinks and good quality pub food. The former over the years - in some of the pubs - has tended to attract alkies and very young drinkers.

Of the ones I know in London though there is a great range of quality - some of the ones in the more historic buildings in the City and the West End are really nice.

...and the carpets are always sticky

This. With bells on.

YANBU.

Whatever you think of Tim Martin, and I wouldn’t want to work for him, Wetherspoons is a place where anyone & everyone is welcome and can get fed & watered for a very reasonable price at any time of day. They also have a commitment to stocking beers from small independent British breweries which should be supported & applauded. Long may they prosper.

Love it 😊

Couldn't have said it better myself

I find them quite variable.

The one at Brighton Marina felt really unsafe / intimidating when I was in there a while back. But I’ve been to a few in London which are perfectly nice. Guess it depends who is in there at the time.

Why wouldn't you want to work for him?

My teenage DC do and have been treated brilliantly. One has been able to transfer to their uni city Spoons (they were given a choice over which one to be transferred to), they get a free meal when they work and a discount when they aren't working. And when she's home at Christmas she'll be transferring back to our local one. They've both been able to choose their own shifts too so still have a social life and plenty of time to study

Ugh yes! I don't even want to think about what's on those thin tacky sticky carpets 🤮