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.

Me and my dd 7 love wetherspoons. It's her first choice to eat out with "pub pizza and choc crunch" her normal choice!
I have never felt unsafe in one or uncomfortably out of place when alone and the app has been a game changer. It was amazing to be in a rammed wetherspoons in New years and be able to order drinks to our table instead of queuing at the crowded bar (this was in the early days when it had just come out) I know numerous people who have worked for them and have loved it, both as flexible shift students and as a full time manager.
Love this appreciation thread for a change on here!

I agree that it is a great place for lone women to go-I often go in alone for a coffee- and that their endless mug is great, their real ales are well kept, too, but there's something about eating there that turns my stomach.

To be frank, and I know it's not their fault, but as it's relatively cheap, a lot of old men with less than perfect hygiene go there. I'm not judging these old men and feel sorry for them but the smell of wee puts me off eating there.

Now I don't want these guys to be stopped from going there at all as I agree the place is a refuge for the lonely, but I'd rather eat elsewhere.

I think this is a fair comment.

Actually this mumsnet op thread has inspired to go on a uk tour to vist weatherspoons pubs in places of interest for me,

Thanks @itsnotmeitsu for thinking of this too.

I go most Sunday mornings for an early breakfast. Great value and very quick to be served.

A Wetherspoons I know is located on a high street. It's well known locally as a regular punch up and buy drugs place. It is a hub for problems, even the local newspaper has commented on it being a regular visiting place for the police.
Even waking past it makes me feel grubby as you can see grotty beer stained carpeting and sticky tables. The clientele are sitting near the windows drinking lagers at just gone 9 in the morning. It's a real shit hole.

I love the little bits of local history on the pictures around the place, and the stories behind the unique carpet patterns in each.

Regarding trips to the loos, I think the one at Melton Mowbray is the longest I've ever seen 😮‍💨

Exeter. It felt like being in a very fancy hotel!

Don't visit ours then, you'd be sorely disappointed.

They have done up the outside of our local one with flowers, it's nice. Also I've spent about 5 hours refilling coffee and they've never moaned

Spoons brekkie is my favourite!

Nothing wrong with Wetherspoons. The food is incredibly cheap and microwaved but at the price they charge you know what you are getting isn't likely to be michelin star quality.

Only problem I have with them is the company is owned by an utter cockwomble.

At least Wetherspoons pay their tax in the UK. I don't agree with Tim Martins Brexit views but he was 7th biggest contributer to tax in this country to the tune of £123Million last year I just read.
I'm pretty sure people don't investigate every big company they use to see if they agree with the politics and ethics of the owner.
For example, Amazon treats it's employees appallingly and avoids paying tax in the UK but I bet a lot of Wetherspoons owner haters still use Amazon.

I know where I'd rather spend my money.

Oh 😔 @GladioliandSweetPeas > 'I'm also a fan but I haven't been in years & years as I have no friends. Literally none ☹️' > If you have got one on your doorstep if it's anything like my regular you won't stand out on your own. And it's better than being alone on a Saturday or Sunday lunchtime.

@Tilllly > 'The one in Harrogate is like the titanic ballroom!!

They are really strict about underage drinking in my experience'

That's the one we go to. The Winter Gardens used to be a botanical gardens for the Victorians. It's part of a complex that also houses original Turkish baths which are still used. It's about a 40 minute drive but we discovered it after the first lockdown and ended up falling for it. I'm sure there's a lot of Wetherspoons I'd avoid like the plague, but my husband works away most of the week and our fortnightly Sunday lunches in Harrogate are an easy uncomplicated way of catching up. There's a few mentions of sticky carpets on here, but each pub has an individually designed handmade carpet, so they'd be be foolish not to keep on top of cleaning them.

I've disliked Tim Martin since he campaigned for Brexit (didn't really know of him before then), but it doesn't stop me appreciating how many of these pubs do provide a service to the community.

And now I'm thinking I've started to read like I work for Wetherspoons PR department 😊

I got food poisoning in one, so I avoid like the plague.

YABU. The food is atrocious.

This should please a lot of MNetters

We do not permit dogs or other animals in our pubs, hotels or in external areas which belong to, or are managed by, us. This includes beer gardens, car parks and outside pavement areas. We realise that this may seem quite strict, but our pubs are busy, with families and children present, and we serve a lot of food.

I take my kids for breakfast sometimes. It is very cheap, safe, and the staff do not care how long you spend there after you have finished eating.

YABU. Do you not remember how they treated their staff during the pandemic?

Tim Martin has some disgusting opinions and I see no reason to support his business with my money.

Fish and chips quite good as are their pizzas. I like the way they present their curries as well. Suspect microwaved but good. Sadly suddenly curry doesn’t agree with my stomach. You get what you pay for but no real grumbles

Their vegetarian curry is good. I am sure it is microwaved, but it is cheap, unlike other places serving microwaved food.

I love a ‘Spoons. You know what you’re getting with it and the food is good for the price. I often work from a ‘Spoons on my WFH days and enjoy the unlimited coffee

I think a lot of posters would be surprised at the amount of higher end restaurants who microwave their food

I like the affordability and I like how they restore old buildings.

I dislike the owner, the way he treats his staff, his behaviour during the pandemic and his political views.

The ones near us are also awful on weekend afternoons and evenings, full of angry underage drinkers and lecherous older men. I’ve also been for post-parkrun breakfast and seen people alone halfway down a bottle of wine. I hate that they facilitate this.