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.

I might start suggesting it on all the 'there's dogs everywhere how am I ever meant to visit a pub/cafe/restaurant threads' .

My DH and I had our first kiss after a works night out in a Wetherspoons, so it will always have a special place in my heart!

Seriously though OP, I'm with you. Yeah the food isn't exactly masterchef level, but it's affordable and you know what you're going to get. It's also a reasonably 'safe' place if you're on your own and provides lots of older people with somewhere to go for a bit. Well at least the one near me does. We also used to go there during the day with our babies on mat leave, cheaper than costa plus lots more space and bigger tables.

Weatherspoons are one of the most family friendly eating places I have ever been. I mean I obviously would not take children in there on a Saturday night, like any pub, but at lunchtime or early evening it is brilliant for children.

The local one is awful... we are blessed with nice pubs though

I have actually been in a few- that is why I judged as cheap and nasty food so please don't accuse me of not setting foot in one.

I didn't say I have never been in one, I have sadly.

One opened up on our street in what had been an old abandoned church. Wetherspoons totally renovated the building which had become derelict and full of graffiti and now it's beautiful. We go for breakfast every Saturday. Full English, free refills of tea and all for £6.50 and a nice quiet setting.

Our local one is lovely.

There were no pubs left before spoons opened. They saved the beautiful old cinema/theatre building.

Like any big chain they vary. There’s one about 25 miles away that you’d avoid in the evenings as it’s rough as fuck, but so is the other “nicer” pub near it.

The one here is always a friendly vibe, even on Saturday nights. The manager doesn’t tolerate rowdiness.

I also like that you can have a conversation without having to yell over loud ‘background’ music.

I love a spoons!

I used to work in a city centre one - the owner is a bastard and my particular manager was also a bastard, but I worked with some great people I'm still in touch with, and met my husband there . One of the greatest love stories lol!

Affordable food and drink, warm place to sit for a while - what's not to like?

I love 'spoons.
I always make a beeline for lunch there when I'm in a strange town.
Cheap drinks, cheap but good reliable food, quiet, no dogs. What's not to like ?

I dont personally like my local ones, but that's just bad luck as they have the riff raff in them. But I know there are good ones

I saw an online theory that there is actually only one set of loos in Wetherspoons and every venue accesses the same toilets through a maze of corridors and secret underground tunnels.

Given the miles I have to trek to get to the ladies in my local one, I think there's something in it......🤣

I won't ever set foot in one.

please don't accuse me of not setting foot in one.

ok so you've been in quite few, even though you presumably hated it the first time, so not sure why you would have gone back if it was that awful .

Still feels like you stand in purely political. Which is fine.

We used to go for a work meeting on a Friday lunch. Burgers were great.

I see there is a weird thing keeps coming up on my fb, which is odd as I haven't been to one for maybe fifteen years. You say where you are and people can send you food and drinks.

Seems popular.

Maybe they do. But I don't usually get served something I could buy as a ready meal in Sainsbury's.

Agree Caley picture house in Edinburgh is nice. Some are rough but many have reasonably priced food and beer. I like their breakfasts when on holiday too.

I read that they are deliberately a long way from the door, to discourage people coming in just to use them without buying anything. Wasn't there someone upthread who admitted to this ?

I’ve never set foot in one, and part of the reason is probably because of the outdoor-sitting clientele of our closest one.

Maybe it’s fabulous inside, but am I going to walk through a bunch of people who are working hard on getting drunk by 11 am to find out?

I go in a local one for 2 hours every Sunday afternoon whilst I drop DC off for cricket practice then collect and drive home. I have a meal and 2 lattè. Last week a man was sitting on the next table on his own another man came in he knew him and sat with him for a drink. The first man said he was going to be alone on Xmas day and the other man said he'd pop in for an hour on Xmas morning at 11am with a few homemade mince pies. It's very good value for money.

I’ve been to them all over the country and my main problem is you have to walk 3 miles to the toilet in every single one! Why?!

See my post just above you.

@TheHawkisHowling I pay £6 for a curry with a soft drink. Not that much more than buying a ready meal and the sides from a supermarket.

My partner got very good furlough pay from spoons during the pandemic.
i agree, it’s nice to not feel under pressure to leave as soon as you’re done eating

People who hate Wetherspoons tend to be middle class snobs who hate the white working class, in my experience.