J D Wetherspoon is a fast-growing chain of freehouses which has been trading since 1979.There are Wetherspoons outlets in most parts of the country and new outlets are due to open in 2001.Sadly for my husband and me, they are yet to open any premises in Cornwall where we holiday every year…but we live in hope. (No offence to any of the Duchy’s most excellent drinking establishments!)
The pubs are run on the basis of providing excellent drinks and delicious, value for money food, in pleasant, convivial surroundings. The novelty of many of Wetherspoons pubs is that they have often been converted from old, existing buildings. The Company has turned theatres, cinemas, banks, post offices, car showrooms and deconsecrated churches into pubs. Many of these lovely buildings would have been demolished otherwise. The names of some of these pubs reflect their past. For example: “The Bank Statement”,”The Postal Order”,”The
Counting House”,”The Square Peg”. A number of Wetherspoons pubs are called “The Full Moon” or “The Moon Under Water” and some are simply called “Wetherspoons.”When visiting relatives in Essex recently, I was amused to find “The Barking Dog.”(In Barking, where else?)
Every Wetherspoons pub has a designated non-smoking area and I have seen staff impose this rule when some-one has lit up, which I appreciate, as a non-smoker myself. There is no blaring music in Wetherspoons pubs, and certainly in the ones I have visited, no irritating games machines. What you do get is a pleasant, convivial place to drink, eat and converse. Staff are quick to clean tables when customers leave, and although you have to expect a certain amount of mess at busy times, the staff work hard to keep it to a minimum. The same goes for the loos which are checked every hour and are usually spotless. Some of the Ladies loos are very nice, with full-length mirrors and even sofas in some. My husband assures me that the Gents are equally well looked after. (Some areas are out of bounds even when doing a review for Ciao!)
So, what are you having? Well, there’s plenty to choose from. Wetherspoons offer real ale to the enthusiast and the Company liases with CAMRA and CASK MARQUE.As well as the more well-known breweries, Wetherspoons offers beers from smaller, independant breweries and you can find some quite unusual brews to try. The prices are so good that in my area we have the strange fact that Wetherspoons sells beer from a local, very well-known brewery cheaper than that brewery’s own houses. You will also find a huge selection of bottled beers, trendy brews, famous names such as Smirnoff, Gordons, Bells, Bacardi, Jack Daniels, Courvoisier and Southern Comfort, all at very keen prices. Some drinks are offered as a “Double Act” which means it’s as cheap to have a double than a single. (Have you ever heard a better excuse than that?) Wetherspoons also caters for the wine buff, with a good selection of robust reds and crisp whites, with the house wine coming from the famous Napa Valley, no less.
For the non-drinker or the designated driver in your party there is a wide selection of soft drinks available, happily not at inflated prices as in some establishments. Choose from Coke, fruit juice, Appletise, Perrier and non-alcoholic lager.
Feeling peckish? You will, once you’ve perused the menu. Wetherspoons offer an all-day menu and they also serve food on Sundays.This is not your usual pub grub, either. Wetherspoons have the distinction of working with Egon Ronay and their menus are very tempting. There are light menus and more substantial main courses and desserts to die for. A small selection of the 50 or so items on offer daily… Chicken wrap, Chinese Chicken Noodles, Tuna steak, Nachos, Burgers with bacon and Stilton, salmon steaks, rump steak with all the trimmings, an authentic balti served with naan bread, fish and chips par excellence (my husband recommends the plaice) and my all-time favourite, the delicious Combo, a platter big enough for two people (or one greedy person!) Desserts include cheesecake, ice-cream sundae, chocolate fudge cake and banoffee pie. Oh, the calories!
So, if you’ve never been to a Wetherspoons I hope I might have tempted you to go. Personally speaking, I appreciate the no music policy (I don’t mind a little background music but some places blare it out) One thing I have found in my travels is that prices do vary according to the area the pub is in; nevertheless, you will still find them to be good value. Probably the dearest Wetherspoons my husband and I have visited is the “Moon Under Water” on Charing Cross Road, but then, that’s London.All in all, Wetherspoons offer excellent value, good food, good drinks, fast and efficient service (make allowances at peak times) and comfortable surroundings.
Have a good visit.
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You should get a job writing FOR Wetherspoons, Excellent Review! Jade x
tommartin 08.03.2001 01:35
Another good op, I like Wetherspoons if I want a quite drink with my partner, but if I was to have a lads night out I would be hard pushed to enjoy myself. I like some music in the background, although it does not matter if it is loud or quite, I think it helps create an atmosphere (probably a sub conscious thing).
Saltire 07.03.2001 11:31
On your comment of the loos, at least Wetherspoons have realised that more than 3 cubicles is necessary for a large pub!
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Feb 28th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
