[Politics] Tim Martin - what goes around.....

[The Clamp]

Been to a fair few of his pubs over the years. Some much better than others. The town centre ones in buildings never built as pubs, with no natural light or ventilation (like the one in George Street) are horrendous places, but equally I can think of some, like the converted Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, or the one in Exeter with the amazing Orangery that have revived beautiful old buildings.

And contrary to the popularly espoused notion, the clientele is far from homogenous - the 'typical' 10am drinkers club do exist of course - but they're not all like that. The Exeter one above, for example, is almost exclusively full of middle-class students.

So, for me, I'd take them as I find them, as individual pubs, rather than as an identikit chain.

t least I would, if Tim Martin had not proven himself over the last 5 years to be an utter, utter ****, who won't be getting a penny more of my cash, to prop up his business, as it crumbles under self-inflicted damage. The ****.

Yep. That about sums it up.

 

[MJsGhost]

Been to a fair few of his pubs over the years. Some much better than others. The town centre ones in buildings never built as pubs, with no natural light or ventilation (like the one in George Street) are horrendous places, but equally I can think of some, like the converted Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, or the one in Exeter with the amazing Orangery that have revived beautiful old buildings.

And contrary to the popularly espoused notion, the clientele is far from homogenous - the 'typical' 10am drinkers club do exist of course - but they're not all like that. The Exeter one above, for example, is almost exclusively full of middle-class students.

So, for me, I'd take them as I find them, as individual pubs, rather than as an identikit chain.

t least I would, if Tim Martin had not proven himself over the last 5 years to be an utter, utter ****, who won't be getting a penny more of my cash, to prop up his business, as it crumbles under self-inflicted damage. The ****.

Nailed it in one.

Leaving Brexit out of it, Tim Martin is an odious pr|ck, who treats his staff like sh|t.

 

[Milano]

I read a book that covered your neck of the woods in the 80’s. Not much choice, Busby’s Redhill and Martine’s East Grinstead were popular.

Which book?

I grew up in Redhill, drank in Reigate mainly though in late 80s as Redhill pubs were shite. White Hart, Market and Red Cross mainly, then shared cab to Millionaires via everyone’s houses to get into club clobber. Those were the days!! It was far more violent back then but strangely you needed a suit to get into the club, when it kicked off it was like a scene out of the Krays

 

[Weststander]

Which book?

I grew up in Redhill, drank in Reigate mainly though in late 80s as Redhill pubs were shite. White Hart, Market and Red Cross mainly, then shared cab to Millionaires via everyone’s houses to get into club clobber. Those were the days!! It was far more violent back then but strangely you needed a suit to get into the club, when it kicked off it was like a scene out of the Krays

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B077BVJVS1/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

There's a least a chapter on his days at Busby's Redhill and the violence they faced.

A bit of an autobio, I loved the book, plenty on the Top Rank Suite, Pink Coconut.

 

[Greg Bobkin]

Correct

Shutting down the whole of Europe for a year plays quite a big part.

The driver shortage actually became less of an issue during the lockdowns. In 2019 there was a 21% shortfall across Europe and it fell to 7% last year. Expected to be back up to 17% by the end of the year (source: IRU).

But the UK's driver shortage issue has been going on for years and years and is caused by a load of factors. Not something you can blame wholly on Brexit, but it certainly didn't help...

 

[Uncle C]

I don’t moan about it, I mock and sneer. There’s a difference.

I think that says a lot more about you than Wetherspoons

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

1.20 a pint of Lowenbrau in the Red Cross in Reigate when I started out. Could get staircased for a tenner and get a bab on the way home. Last pint I had in a boozer cost me 6.80

Ah, the halcyon days of unsafe sex.

 

[Doc Lynam]

Oven ready deal! Turned out to be as good as a Wetherspoons meal!

 

[Harry Wilson's tackle]

Oven ready deal! Turned out to be as good as a Wetherspoons meal!

Let's not start talking this great country down. You can almost feel the new freedom, can't you?

 

[disgruntled h blocker]

Been to a fair few of his pubs over the years. Some much better than others. The town centre ones in buildings never built as pubs, with no natural light or ventilation (like the one in George Street) are horrendous places, but equally I can think of some, like the converted Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, or the one in Exeter with the amazing Orangery that have revived beautiful old buildings.

And contrary to the popularly espoused notion, the clientele is far from homogenous - the 'typical' 10am drinkers club do exist of course - but they're not all like that. The Exeter one above, for example, is almost exclusively full of middle-class students.

So, for me, I'd take them as I find them, as individual pubs, rather than as an identikit chain.

t least I would, if Tim Martin had not proven himself over the last 5 years to be an utter, utter ****, who won't be getting a penny more of my cash, to prop up his business, as it crumbles under self-inflicted damage. The ****.

Must admit you can't beat an "Urban Safari" to the Wagon Works in Eastleigh...

 

[smiler]

Let's not start talking this great country down. You can almost feel the new freedom, can't you?

No !

 

[Bodian]

Been to a fair few of his pubs over the years. Some much better than others. The town centre ones in buildings never built as pubs, with no natural light or ventilation (like the one in George Street) are horrendous places, but equally I can think of some, like the converted Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, or the one in Exeter with the amazing Orangery that have revived beautiful old buildings.

And contrary to the popularly espoused notion, the clientele is far from homogenous - the 'typical' 10am drinkers club do exist of course - but they're not all like that. The Exeter one above, for example, is almost exclusively full of middle-class students.

So, for me, I'd take them as I find them, as individual pubs, rather than as an identikit chain.

t least I would, if Tim Martin had not proven himself over the last 5 years to be an utter, utter ****, who won't be getting a penny more of my cash, to prop up his business, as it crumbles under self-inflicted damage. The ****.

The Winter Gardens in Harrogate is indeed a thing of beauty.

 

[Live by the sea]

Science has yet to invent a violin small enough for me to play for Tim Martin and any idiot who drinks in Wetherspoons

I assumed you needed to be either 1. An alcoholic or 2. A OAP to drink in a weatherspoons. Is this not true ?

 

[Pevenseagull]

Been to a fair few of his pubs over the years. Some much better than others. The town centre ones in buildings never built as pubs, with no natural light or ventilation (like the one in George Street) are horrendous places, but equally I can think of some, like the converted Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, or the one in Exeter with the amazing Orangery that have revived beautiful old buildings.

And contrary to the popularly espoused notion, the clientele is far from homogenous - the 'typical' 10am drinkers club do exist of course - but they're not all like that. The Exeter one above, for example, is almost exclusively full of middle-class students.

So, for me, I'd take them as I find them, as individual pubs, rather than as an identikit chain.

t least I would, if Tim Martin had not proven himself over the last 5 years to be an utter, utter ****, who won't be getting a penny more of my cash, to prop up his business, as it crumbles under self-inflicted damage. The ****.

He's caught hold of that one!

Still rising as it sails over the pavilion and into the car park. That was a huge 6 as soon as it left the bat.

Magnificent shot.

 

[Stat Brother]

But the UK's driver shortage issue has been going on for years and years and is caused by a load of factors. Not something you can blame wholly on Brexit, but it certainly didn't help...

This.

We haven't so much shot ourselves in the foot with Brexit.

It's more a case of we're now slicing off toes, one at a time.

 

[Easy 10]

Can only echo [MENTION=3566]hans kraay fan club[/MENTION], not ALL Spoons can be judged on the shabby, fetid grief-holes in George St, West St and North St.

I was in Ilfracombe for a wedding a couple of years ago, and the Spoons there is lovely, in a prime spot in town just opposite the harbour. I had breakfast there both mornings (a generous eggs benedict for £2.99 - RIDICULOUS), and even returned to have a stab at the gin menu one evening.

Wild horses couldn't drag me into that George St one though. All you can see is tattoos and gapped teeth everywhere.

 

[zefarelly]

Can only echo [MENTION=3566]hans kraay fan club[/MENTION], not ALL Spoons can be judged on the shabby, fetid grief-holes in George St, West St and North St.

I was in Ilfracombe for a wedding a couple of years ago, and the Spoons there is lovely, in a prime spot in town just opposite the harbour. I had breakfast there both mornings (a generous eggs benedict for £2.99 - RIDICULOUS), and even returned to have a stab at the gin menu one evening.

Wild horses couldn't drag me into that George St one though. All you can see is tattoos and gapped teeth everywhere.

Eggs Benedict for £2.99 . . . way too cheap. I wonder how they make the sauce

 

[DavidinSouthampton]

Been to a fair few of his pubs over the years. Some much better than others. The town centre ones in buildings never built as pubs, with no natural light or ventilation (like the one in George Street) are horrendous places, but equally I can think of some, like the converted Opera House in Tunbridge Wells, or the one in Exeter with the amazing Orangery that have revived beautiful old buildings.

And contrary to the popularly espoused notion, the clientele is far from homogenous - the 'typical' 10am drinkers club do exist of course - but they're not all like that. The Exeter one above, for example, is almost exclusively full of middle-class students.

So, for me, I'd take them as I find them, as individual pubs, rather than as an identikit chain.

t least I would, if Tim Martin had not proven himself over the last 5 years to be an utter, utter ****, who won't be getting a penny more of my cash, to prop up his business, as it crumbles under self-inflicted damage. The ****.

A masterpiece of…….. something or other.

Had us all worried there for a while. There must be a literary term for it, which I probably should know.

 

[Herr Tubthumper]

Can only echo [MENTION=3566]hans kraay fan club[/MENTION], not ALL Spoons can be judged on the shabby, fetid grief-holes in George St, West St and North St.

I was in Ilfracombe for a wedding a couple of years ago, and the Spoons there is lovely, in a prime spot in town just opposite the harbour. I had breakfast there both mornings (a generous eggs benedict for £2.99 - RIDICULOUS), and even returned to have a stab at the gin menu one evening.

Wild horses couldn't drag me into that George St one though. All you can see is tattoos and gapped teeth everywhere.

Eggs Benedict? Wetherspoons

Very funny. Next you will be telling us they also serve fruit tea or beer that hasn’t gone past it’s sell-by date.

 

[Easy 10]

Eggs Benedict for £2.99 . . . way too cheap. I wonder how they make the sauce

Eggs Benedict? Wetherspoons

Very funny. Next you will be telling us they also serve fruit tea or beer that hasn’t gone past it’s sell-by date.

Can only report as I find.

Two poached eggs with perfectly runny yolks, on top of a generously thick slice of ham, warm soft muffin, hollandaise sauce and a bit of (disposable) rocket. Ticks all the boxes for me. Maybe I got lucky in the Ilfracombe branch (I don't make a habit of breakfast at a Spoons), but it was, I would say, a few degrees north of DECENT.

And for that price ? It would be idiotic not to.