[Drinking] The Pub Debate - Weatherspoons

[Whitechapel]

FWIW I’d never want to spend an entire session in ‘Spoons, but for a place to start or end a crawl it’s pretty much perfect.

Went out for a few drinks in Eastbourne with some mates last week. Spent most of the day spending about £26 a round for the four of us. We then went to Wetherspoons and as I’d just won £100 on the slots I said I’d get the last round. I got 8 double vodkas with mixer for a touch over £30.

Thankfully my friends aren’t so boring that I need music or TV to distract me from their company so we had a great time.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

It’s amazing what weird moral crusades people take.

I know people who won’t drink in ‘Spoons but will happily scoff Nestlé products and buy a new iPhone packed with cobalt every year despite both companies being guilty of a lot more than having a different opinion on Brexit.

People often have pet hates which might seem inconsistent with their other actions. It’s not that weird in my opinion.

With respect to ‘spoons though, I am pretty sure I don’t frequent any other bars with wife-beating posters and punters who smell of piss so I am consistent on this front.

 

[Guinness Boy]

i'm curious how those that never frequent a 'spoons can know how bad the beer is.

That’s one hell of an assumption.

The Spoons at Gatwick is my go to before a flight. We sometimes find ourselves in ones before football. Go away with a mixed age group so always good to go with the lowest budget. Worked in Baker St for a while so used the Metropolitan from time to time for team things.

In pretty much every one the ale has been poor. The lager and IPA is fine. Guinness is ok at Gatwick because they have people who know how to pour.

However, if you use a Spoons as your local / regular you should consider attending meetings.

 

[Questions]

Maybe they just don’t keep the ale very well then?

What you think their managers might not be top notch on £15 ph.
Ok I’ll say it. Takes a real professional to run that sort of pintage.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

What you think their managers might not be top notch on £15 ph.
Ok I’ll say it. Takes a real professional to run that sort of pintage.

A good point.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

i'm curious how those that never frequent a 'spoons can know how bad the beer is.

As I have mentioned I have used the pubs. The one at Heathrow had some nice beers on and they seemed well kept. Gatwick I have eaten at. I have been to others as well but just don’t find the beer that interesting or well kept and they are usually better places to visit nearby. The only beer I drink in the UK is cask ale and as I have repeatedly said you can do so much better elsewhere whether it’s beer, food or punters.

 

[Whitechapel]

People often have pet hates which might seem inconsistent with their other actions. It’s not that weird in my opinion.

With respect to ‘spoons though, I am pretty sure I don’t frequent any other bars with wife-beating posters and punters who smell of piss so I am consistent on this front.

People are free to dislike whatever they like, I just think trying to justify their snobbery/disdain as some big political stand is laughably transparent. I don't think this forum would be full of people talking about their brave boycott of the Brexit loving Next/Unilever if there was ever a thread about them.

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

It's a brilliant chain owned by a bellend.

Affordable food and drinks for many.
Huge employer in many towns.
Keeps some amazing old buildings in great condition.

Big fan, even some of the clientele don't exactly make you proud to be British

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

People are free to dislike whatever they like, I just think trying to justify their snobbery/disdain as some big political stand is laughably transparent. I don't think this forum would be full of people talking about their brave boycott of the Brexit loving Next/Unilever if there was ever a thread about them.

Possibly. But having a gobshite owner makes Whetherspoons a much easier target though.

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Not much of a debate.

Yes - they are the cheapest in the business.

I'm sure there are imported beers brewed and bottle by children in India (earning sixpence and a thrashing a week) you can buy from Costco that are much cheaper. The race to the bottom is not over yet

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

It's a brilliant chain owned by a bellend.

Affordable food and drinks for many.
Huge employer in many towns.
Keeps some amazing old buildings in great condition.

Big fan, even some of the clientele don't exactly make you proud to be British

As I have mentioned at least 5 times on NSC in the past, Me and my pal Bob the (then, not yet retired) social worker were 'offered outside 'three times by different bell ends during the 30 minutes we took to sip our gassy and disappointing beers on the only occasion we ventured to the 'Leading Light' (Spoon) in town.

I'd rather flop my John Thomas into the open palm of a lunatic with a carving knife in his other hand than venture back to Faversham spoons.

 

[Iggle Piggle]

As an aside to this thread, Madri is everywhere up my way. It's tasteless shite that everyone seems to drink at top tier prices.Its basically expensive Carling.

Is this everywhere down South as well or just a midlands / north thing?

 

[Terry Butcher Tribute Act]

I also think people are quick to judge branches of Spoons, forgetting local nuances that apply to any pub.

E.g. some publicans are better at keeping Cask beer better than others.

Some pubs in town attract the local knobbers.

It's not the same one size fits all rule, only the menu. In summary, Some Spoons are great, some are shite.

 

[Springal]

As an aside to this thread, Madri is everywhere up my way. It's tasteless shite that everyone seems to drink at top tier prices.Its basically expensive Carling.

Is this everywhere down South as well or just a midlands / north thing?

It is literally made at the Carling factory as well

 

[Wrong-Direction]

They serve a purpose. Cheap grog and scran. Some are undoubtedly nicer than others, I went to one in Newquay which was lovely. Great location by the harbour, nice building, spotlessly clean and an Eggs Benedict (plus limitless coffee) for less than 4 quid which was frankly superb. Of course some are open sewers with many people hosting less teeth than eyeballs, but thats like any other pub. The Spoons in the Marina is ok, nice outside area too.

I take as I find. That George Street one was grim, but most are alright.

Think I spent an entire stag do weekend in the Newquay one about 10 years ago

 

[Guinness Boy]

As an aside to this thread, Madri is everywhere up my way. It's tasteless shite that everyone seems to drink at top tier prices.Its basically expensive Carling.

Is this everywhere down South as well or just a midlands / north thing?

It’s Carling with a made up Madrid back story.

Not in many of the pubs I use down here. However, the worst pint of beer I’ve ever had was a Madri in that Premier Inn in Wolverhampton they laughably use as the away pub.

Luckily this season there wasn’t a train strike so we drank in Birmingham in the excellent Head of Steam before Wolves.

 

[VAL1850]

Today Spoons full house breakfast and coffees pre Plumpton at Spoons Eastbourne Town and country, train to Plumpton, great afternoon at races with lots of bears and a winner to boot

Back to EB and Spoons a couple more beers Abbot Ale plus Madras curry with pint... What's there not to like..?

 

[keaton]

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Incredible that they've managed to list that many beers and I'd probably choose to drink one in a pub

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

I also think people are quick to judge branches of Spoons, forgetting local nuances that apply to any pub.

E.g. some publicans are better at keeping Cask beer better than others.

Some pubs in town attract the local knobbers.

It's not the same one size fits all rule, only the menu. In summary, Some Spoons are great, some are shite.

You make a good and valid point. But if I was to say I don’t go into pub A because the beer is shit, or pub B because it’s full of idiots no one bats an eyelid. I say this about Whetherspoons and I’m branded a snob.

 

[ManOfSussex]

Curry night?

It's Curry Club actually and it's on Thursday's at Wetherspoons. Monday Club is the best one though because that's cheaper drinks, or so I've been told because you'd never catch me in a 'Spoons anywhere ever. Honest.