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    A Defence of Wetherspoons

    Posted by Carp Fisher on 11/2/2026, 5:21:31

    Enough with the snobby sneering at Wetherspoons every time someone mentions a cheap pint or a decent feed. The people who look down their noses at "Spoons" are usually the same elitist types who've never set foot in one, never worked a shift there, and frankly come across as bigots who think anything not wrapped in craft beer pretension or fancy gastro prices is beneath them.
    Let's talk facts instead of class snobbery.
    Wetherspoons isn't just slinging drinks—it's a national standard for excellence in hospitality. Their training programmes are proper, nationally recognised stuff, often accredited by external bodies. They don't just train people for a shift; they train them for a career. Recruitment managers in other sectors actively seek out ex-Spoons staff because they know those lads and lasses can handle mad Friday night pressure, strict health & safety, and complex logistics like pros.
    Survive a busy Spoons shift? You've got that "battle-tested" resilience most bosses dream of. They call it the "Spoons Polish" for a reason.
    Then there's the real ladder of opportunity. This place is one of the UK's best engines for social mobility. Qualifications on paper matter way less than the graft you put in. Countless stories of people starting as glass collectors or kitchen porters with zero formal quals, then climbing to Pub Manager or even Area Manager. Over 90% (actually closer to 100% for pub managers) of their management comes from internal promotion—no posh outsiders parachuted in. They back it up with apprenticeships, diplomas, leadership courses—the full toolkit for anyone with drive.
    Benefits? Rare in hospitality:

    Share incentive schemes — after 18 months, you get free shares in the company, so you actually own a slice and benefit when it does well.
    Bonuses for all — monthly bonuses paid to every staff member based on pub performance and standards, not just the suits.

    Critics bang on about it being "downmarket" but ignore that Wetherspoons is one of the most efficient, well-run logistical operations in the country—nearly 900 pubs open 364 days a year, running like clockwork.
    It gives thousands of young people (and veterans, people from all backgrounds) their first proper step into work, stable careers, diversity in action—not just lip service.
    So next time you bigots on here slags it off without ever having tried it, remember: the sneering usually comes from elitism, not experience. Those who actually know Spoons—from punters to staff—respect it for what it is: proper British hospitality done right, without the pretence.
    Who's with me for a proper pint at the Spoons?

      Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

      Posted by Godders on 11/2/2026, 10:29:09, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"

      I know several people who work or have worked at the Gary Cooper. Let's just say that whilst some of the above is fair and correct, parts of it is definitely, shall we say, nicely spun where employees are regularly not given the weekly hours they are supposedly contracted for. If its such a great place to work why is the staff turnover so high?
      From what I know though, you're spot on about quality of training. Just a shame that management seem happy to treat their staff do poorly, and probably breaking the law too.
      Spoons is definitely a good place to be guaranteed a decent pint of real ale though at sensible prices.

      Live justly, love mercy, perpetuate generosity, walk humbly.

        Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

        Posted by Suffolk Punch on 11/2/2026, 11:21:43, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

        It's always puzzled me why traditionally brewed beer has to be referred to as "real ale". Why aren't the likes of Carling and John Smiths just known as "fake ale"?

        Everybody talks...
        Some hear...
        A few listen...
        Almost nobody understands...

          Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

          Posted by Godders on 11/2/2026, 11:42:04, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

          Isn't it about the fact that it's "live" and is therefore naturally slightly carbonated rather than being blasted with CO2. That's what I was told many years ago anyway. It certainly has far more flavour than bland lagers.

          Live justly, love mercy, perpetuate generosity, walk humbly.

            Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

            Posted by Suffolk Punch on 11/2/2026, 16:31:27, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

            True. But fake ale is pasteurised, making the injection of CO2 from a cylinder necessary. I'm sure The Campaign for Real Ale never intended the term "real ale" to be used to redefine a natural product that had been around for centuries.

            Everybody talks...
            Some hear...
            A few listen...
            Almost nobody understands...

        Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

        Posted by Hatter1960 on 11/2/2026, 10:24:47, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"

        You've never been to Gary Cooper in dunstable then. Takes an age to get served and if you can get a table that's not full of empty glasses then is a miracle. Rude lazy staff and if you dare complain you get barred. It's not worth a cheap pint......

          Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

          Posted by Godders on 11/2/2026, 10:35:09, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

          I used to know someone who was quite high up in management at spoons. He actually told me that Dunstable's Gary Cooper is well known at that higher management level for being rubbish. It does make me wonder why they then don't sack the perpetrators at pub level. From what I understand it's not the servers that are the issue but pin level management that treat staff with contempt.

          Live justly, love mercy, perpetuate generosity, walk humbly.

            Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

            Posted by Godders on 11/2/2026, 10:36:23, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

            *pub not pin!

            Live justly, love mercy, perpetuate generosity, walk humbly.

          Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

          Posted by Cotteridge Hatter on 11/2/2026, 9:48:13, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"

          A bit surprised at your suggestion that people who like craft beer (and I assume in that you include real ale) disparage Weatherspoons. As a CAMRA member I can vouch that Weathrspoons are one of the few establishments that will honour CAMRA beer tokens and in many towns the only place you can get a pint of proper beer.
          Yes, some are overrun with unsavoury characters getting drunk on the cheapest beer they can find, and they all follow the same format, but they do provide outlets for beers aside from the usual bar staples. I'd rather go to one than somewhere just selling Carling, Guinness and John Smith's smooth flow.

            Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

            Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 12:16:09, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"
            WUM

            And Worthingtons cream flow

            Poor man's Jamed

            Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

            Posted by m on 11/2/2026, 6:50:14, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"

            Let’s not forget. The 800 odd million they contribute in Taxes to the treasury.

              Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

              Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 7:10:03, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"
              WUM

              Hes a Tory he will be registed in the Camen Islands .

              Tories don't like paying tax

              Poor man's Jamed

                Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                Posted by Earls on 11/2/2026, 7:56:23, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                Careful, now. Whatever you think of Martin, he’s not a tax dodger. Wetherspoons are no Amazon/Apple/Spotify for shady tax avoidance, which is another thing in their favour the anti-Spoons snobs don’t mention.

                  Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                  Posted by Kbot on 11/2/2026, 8:14:34, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                  I’m left wing (my court yard exercise is perfectly normal) and have drunk in a Wetherspoons. It’s a pub, some are good, some are crap. Can’t I just disagree with Tim?

                Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                Posted by E5 Hat on 11/2/2026, 6:37:57, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                I love pubs, but the reality is most of the weathespoons pubs I’ve been in are plastic pubs and generally survive purely on discounting. You don’t feel it’s a pub, the staff have zero connection with you and the food is frozen cheap ingredients. The beers ok, often have a nice indie brew, but that’s a low bar to high hospitality. The feel like a travelodge without the rooms.

                  Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                  Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 6:47:48, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"
                  WUM

                  Spoons in Stirling is dire . They all line up behind each other in one line. Its not a pub if you cannot mob the bar and say over here love

                  Poor man's Jamed

                    Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                    Posted by Earls on 11/2/2026, 7:47:03, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                    That’s a horrible trend, but sadly not a Spons-specific one. The Leighton Buzzard Spoons is a proper scrum for being served. As is only proper and British, dammit.

                      Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                      Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 8:08:47, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"
                      WUM

                      Meet the chaps in LB beer or two in the Black lion then Turkish at NO1 then back to MK on train or stay in Swan, handy for match day bus

                      Poor man's Jamed

                        Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                        Posted by Earls on 11/2/2026, 8:18:57, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                        Thanks for that update.

                          Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                          Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 8:35:34, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"
                          WUM

                          You can join us next time

                          Poor man's Jamed

                Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 6:29:28, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"
                WUM

                Didnt pay his staff during covid untill he was forced to by media and public outrage

                Poor man's Jamed

                  Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                  Posted by Captain Pugwash on 11/2/2026, 6:28:34, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                  I'll drink to that.

                  I also want to know where they get their bacon from. Delicious.

                    Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                    Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 6:31:11, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"
                    WUM

                    A pig i believe

                    Poor man's Jamed

                    Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                    Posted by J in C on 11/2/2026, 6:27:50, in reply to "A Defence of Wetherspoons"
                    WUM

                    Decent feed isn't exactly bob on is it

                    Poor man's Jamed

                      Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons

                      Posted by High Town on 11/2/2026, 7:56:51, in reply to "Re: A Defence of Wetherspoons"

                      All that & no mention of their Toilets!

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