This England: Great pub-licity
A university student on a quest to find the best Wetherspoons in the UK plans to visit all 800 pubs by the age of 30. Charlotte Toller, who is 20 and based in Bromley, is judging each establishment on criteria including cost and appearance, as well as how far away the toilets are from the bar and the quality of the carpet. Toller is studying journalism at the University of Roehampton.
Bromley News Shopper (Benjamin Chase)
Fits the bill
A man is walking 53 miles in a homemade bird costume to raise awareness and funds for conservation projects. Matt Trevelyan, a farming officer for Nidderdale National Landscape, crafted the 10ft-long costume of a Eurasian curlew – Europe's largest wading bird – out of polystyrene and bamboo. Mr Trevelyan said: 'Those who know me well know I was eventually going to build a giant curlew. She's a real beauty. I wanted to represent curlews well because they're such a beautiful bird.'
BBC Yorkshire (Mark Ireson)
Ninety-nine problems
Plans to prohibit ice cream vans next to Greenwich Park have prompted a councillor to state that the local authority is not 'anti-ice-cream'. Greenwich Council's cabinet suggested that King William Walk be designated as a prohibited street for itinerant lolly trading. However, ice cream van operator Paul St Hilaire Sr successfully challenged the decision in court on the basis that the council's decision was not legally sound.
BBC (Kate McIntosh)
[See also: Inside the Chaotic Map of Doom]
Subscribe to The New Statesman today from only £8.99 per month Subscribe
Related
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- The Herald Scotland
'Two pints for a fiver' - How Wetherspoons reinvented the pub
The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: The Counting House, Glasgow) 'It's not the most salubrious bar, but it's where we like to drink,' Donald Munro tells me. He and his partner of more than two decades, Christine Watt, have managed to snag a table outside, but it's in the shade. The Counting House is their favourite place to get a drink when they come into the city centre from East Kilbride. Today's trip was to get a few bits for their upcoming holiday in Benidorm. 'Two pints for less than a fiver,' Christine says, waving at the glasses of half-drunk cider on the table. 'You just can't beat the price, and we like the atmosphere.' And the people watching is good. But it's the price more than anything else, Christine emphasises. A table in the sun becomes free, and they're off. Marion Duffy (Image: The Counting House, Glasgow) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) Sisters Marion and Tracey Duffy are catching up over £4.42 mini bottles of Teresa Rizzi Sparkling Rosé at a table nearby. 'Everyone comes to Wetherspoons!' Marion says, letting out a burst of laughter. The bubbly 42-year-old florist says she has been coming to the Counting House for years, though she can't nail down just how many. It's their favourite location. 'Every year,' she says. 'Maybe four or five.' 'They've got cheap food and it's quite fast,' says Tracey, 43. Though she prefers somewhere a bit nicer for breakfast. For Marion, Wetherspoons has the best variety of people (specifically this one). It's the main reason she is so loyal to the establishments. 'People just chat normally, rather than having to push a conversation,' she says. 'People are really chatty when you go to the bar. When you're out here and you're in amongst it, it's just really lovely.' Last weekend, she met a couple from Australia at the Counting House. 'Only me,' she says, giggling. They have been keeping in touch on WhatsApp, messaging back and forth. A flicker of seriousness crosses her face. 'I don't know if you get this, but see when you meet people and you have a connection and you know that you'll always keep in touch,' her voice trails off. 'It's crazy'. They're in Ireland just now, but they are coming back in a couple of days, 'and they'll probably be back in here'. READ MORE MARISSA MACWHIRTER The beer garden is dissected by one long table. A group of more than a dozen students from Glasgow Caledonian University's podiatry department are celebrating their last exam. I ask them why they have picked Wetherspoons, what's the draw? Gary Mitchell (Image: Colin Mearns) 'Cheap bevvy,' says Gary Mitchell. Quickly and with a smirk. They find it easier to get a seat here than in other places, 'which are expensive'. 'The drilling just adds to it, that's Glasgow, man,' he adds, gesturing at Prince Albert in his white sling. Another student at the table motions to the building behind us. Someone has put a sign in the window that reads 'Trump is a jobby'. Everyone at the table agrees that Wetherspoons just is what it is. 'It attracts a multitude of people, no one is in the same age group or doing the same thing.' A pair of 19-year-old students from City of Glasgow College are sitting in the shade against the side of the building. Behind oversized sunglasses, they watch the sunny tables like hawks, waiting for one to free up. Anna, from Hamilton, and Sophie, from Uddingston, are not too sentimental about being at Wetherspoons. 'It wouldn't be my first choice, but it's cheap and close,' says Anna. It's just an easy option after attending lectures on campus. And the beer garden gets sunshine. No sooner has she said it than a table opens up. They pick up their pitcher of red cocktail and move along. Sophie and Anna (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House is just as busy inside as out. JD Wetherspoon reported that the recent good weather had buoyed sales as of late. Despite warnings from owner Tim Martin that pint prices would soon be hiked by 20p to offset elements of the latest budget, like-for-like sales are up 5.6% in the 13 weeks to April 27 across the chain's 795 UK pubs. It's a Tuesday afternoon, and a tour around the Merchant City proves that business is not so booming elsewhere. Punters are dotted around the outdoor tables of independents and smaller chain outlets, but nowhere is enjoying the same success as the Counting House. The latest edition of Wetherspoons News (more than 100 pages of pro-Spoons' copy) boasts that the pub is number three on Google Maps' list of best-loved pubs, making it number one in Glasgow. It also has a special article titled 'Killing Off An Urban Myth', in which the idea that the pub chain buys beer close to its sell-by date to keep the prices low is dubbed a 'ludicrous fairytale'. It is, perhaps, a symptom of the times that price takes precedence over all when it comes to choosing one's watering hole. Getting out and socialising is important no matter how tight one's belt is, and Wetherspoons appears to have dominated the cash-conscious market, though well-heeled punters are always about. The irony is not lost on me as I climb the marble steps leading inside the Counting House, a former bank. It's breathtaking inside. (Image: Colin Mearns) (Image: Colin Mearns) The Counting House, Glasgow (Image: Colin Mearns) The Italian Renaissance-style former Bank of Scotland head office, designed between 1867 and 1870 by JT Rochead, became a JD Wetherspoon in 1996. Scotland's flagship Spoons. The walls are decorated with paintings, drawings, photographs, and quotes about money. Beautiful caryatids adorned with symbolic objects, like scales, watch over punters as they fiddle with the Wetherspoons App, trying to order a pint of Stella. When they are not hunched over their smartphones, patrons are gazing up at the magnificent glass dome ceiling. Earlier in the morning, I had visited two other Glasgow Wetherspoons: The Society Room on West George Street and Hengler's Circus on Sauchiehall Street. The silence inside the pubs during the breakfast hours was unbearable. Neither venue is as impressive as The Counting House, but both embodied the same accessible Wetherspoon spirit. I watched as £5.75 plates of Scottish breakfast were ferried off to tables scattered around each venue's different seating areas, the scent of fried oil wafting through the air. All around, people were clutching white porcelain mugs. Coffee is just £1.71, and the refills are free. Morning, regular John McDonald is poring over a crossword while having his coffee. He tells me he likes that it's so quiet. He comes in once or twice a week because it's open early (7.30am), unlike the coffee shops near his Dennistoun home. 'Nowhere else really provides the same thing,' he says, before joking that the prices keep going up. Love it or hate it, Wetherspoon's provides a crucial meeting place for many people in Scotland. The prices are accessible to many, the quality is consistent, and the staff are friendly. They allow people from every corner of society to brush elbows, often in beautiful buildings. The growing need for such cut-price provisions says more about where we are as a society than anything. And one thing is for certain, everyone in Wetherspoons is happy with the price. Marissa MacWhirter is a columnist and feature writer at The Herald, and the editor of The Glasgow Wrap. The newsletter is curated between 5-7am each morning, bringing the best of local news to your inbox each morning without ads, clickbait, or hyperbole. Oh, and it's free. She can be found on X @marissaamayy1
The Sun
4 days ago
- The Sun
Wetherspoons fans devastated as ‘favourite' dip axed from menu
WETHERSPOONS has axed a popular dip leaving fans devastated. Sticky soy sauce has now permanently disappeared from the budget boozer's menu. 1 The Asian-inspired dip, which was often served with breast bites, was a popular choice amongst diners. Confused punters took to Reddit to find out where the beloved dish had gone. Writing in a thread one customer asked if anyone knew where the sauce had gone, adding they would be "devastated" if it was axed. Another person said: "Not very happy about it but its gone. So good with breast bites." The Sun reached out to Wetherspoons who confirmed the sauce was taken off menus on May 14. A spokesperson said: ' The company reviews its menus regularly and on occasion, some items will be taken off. 'This is the case with the sticky soy sauce." 'We appreciate that some customers will be disappointed and apologise to them.' The news will come as a blow to customers who in the past described the sauce as "the one". Another fan previously said they "lived" for the beloved liquid condiment. The Sun tries Wetherspoons' new menu It comes as the affordable chain has shaken up its menu in recent weeks. That includes it's famous £6.49 chicken bites, which are "temporarily unavailable" on menus across all pubs in the UK. The staple item featured 10 crispy chicken bites, chips and a bunch of sauces. Spoons has also cut steak, mixed grills and gammon from menus across the country in a cost-cutting shake-up. But it is not all bad news for punters as the chain has launched a range of new Gourmet Burgers. Spoons also launched a £2.99 breakfast deal in February, with customers able to get a breakfast muffin or small breakfast with soft or hot drink. MORE AXED MENU ITEMS Wetherspoons is not the only chain switching up its menus. Greggs recently axed its Chargrill Chicken Oval Bite in a blow to fans. A spokesperson for Greggs told The Sun the bite has been axed to make way for the new Roast Chicken Salad Roll, which launched in May. The Sun also exclusively revealed in May the chain had axed its Spicy Veg Curry Bake. How can I save money at Wetherspoons? PUB-GOERS love Wetherspoons for its competitive pricing and low-cost meals - but did you know there are more ways to save money? Senior consumer reporter Olivia Marshall explains how. Free refills - Buy a £1.50 tea, coffee or hot chocolate and you can get free refills. The deal is available all day, every day. Check a map - Prices can vary from one location the next, even those close to each other. So if you're planning a pint at a Spoons, it's worth popping in nearby pubs to see if you're settling in at the cheapest. Choose your day - Each night the pub chain runs certain food theme nights. For instance, every Thursday night is curry club, where diners can get a main meal and a drink for a set price cheaper than usual. Pick-up vouchers - Students can often pick up voucher books in their local near universities, which offer discounts on food and drink, so keep your eyes peeled. Get appy - The Wetherspoons app allows you to order and pay for your drink and food from your table - but you don't need to be in the pub to use it. Taking full advantage of this, cheeky customers have used social media to ask their friends and family to order them drinks. The app is free to download on the App Store or Google Play. Check the date - Every year, Spoons holds its Tax Equality Day to highlight the benefits of a permanently reduced tax bill for the pub industry. It usually takes place in September, and last year it fell on Thursday, September 14. As well as its 12-day Real Ale Festival every Autumn, Wetherspoons also holds a Spring Festival.
Telegraph
01-06-2025
- Telegraph
My day drinking in Britain's biggest Wetherspoons
A pie-eyed 60-something lady blows me a kiss before collapsing on the backseat of a cab outside The Waterfront pub. It's 5pm and she's peaked too soon. But haven't we all? Alcohol consumption is in terminal decline, apparently. It's all bubble tea and kombucha from here on in, people. Not in this town it ain't. Not in Ramsgate. The quayside pubs are heaving on this sunny Saturday afternoon, literally overflowing with red-skinned drinkers clutching fags and pints. Talk of the faded British seaside feels wide of the mark here. Ramsgate is pumping. I watch a white-aproned man pack his seafood kiosk up for the day as wide boys drive their bulging biceps and Botoxed babes around in Beemers. Bronzed families with the sand between their toes flip-flop home from the beach, past pretty yachts in the marina and hipsters sucking roll-ups outside the Queens Head. Dapper pensioners pick a path through the eclectic human traffic with a smile. They were young once. I head to the Wetherspoons for a pint. The Royal Victorian Pavilion is not just any 'Spoons – it's Britain's biggest, a cathedral of a pub, and fresh from a £750,000 refurb. Not that the punters have noticed. 'I'm not sure what they've done apart from plant these flowers, which look nice – I might slip them into my handbag,' says Lin Brown, who's drinking on the rooftop terrace with her friends. The girls are here for pre-drinks – 'we'll shimmy into town later' – and life admin. 'We're booking tickets to see Spurs in the Europa League Final,' says Brown (who won't regret that purchase). 'We booked a holiday to Egypt last week.' Why the 'Spoons? 'It's cheap,' they say, in unison. They're not wrong. My pint of Ruddles cost an almost laughable £1.79. It's like being in the Eighties again. Shame about the atmosphere, though, which inside the pub was flatter than my ale, forcing me out onto the busy terrace where I pulled up a pew near the girls. 'I thought you were a stripper when you came over,' says Jen Cavelle, or 'Mrs C', clutching my arm. 'It's my birthday tomorrow. I thought these girls had got me something.' I can't work out if Mrs C is disappointed or relieved that I'm not a stripper. Come to think of it, I'm not sure if I'm flattered or offended that she thought I might be. The girls have been coming to the Pavilion – originally a concert hall – since before it was a 'Spoons. 'It used to be a nightclub,' says Mrs C, who went on the pull here. 'The lights would come on at the end of the night and I'd think 'f****** hell, who's this?' Beer goggles!' While other British seaside towns have withered since cheap flights pulled the beach towel from under their feet, Ramsgate is holding its own, reckon the girls. This despite being in Thanet, one of England's most deprived regions. 'It's got a buzz,' says Brown. 'The pubs are busy, even in winter. It's vibrant, there are always bands on.' The g-word inevitably rears its head. 'It's gentrifying,' says communications officer Natalie McAleer, who moved here from the capital. 'There weren't many London-type places a couple of years ago but now there are more wine bars, more coffee shops. I think it's following in the footsteps of Margate, which is basically Shoreditch-on-Sea.' Ramsgate's liberal London blow-ins make for odd bedfellows in a region that has traditionally shown strong support for Nigel Farage's party du jour. The town's dichotomous demographic was brought into sharp focus in May's local elections, which saw Reform take the largest share of votes – followed by the Greens. It's two-party politics, but not as we know it. One certified vote winner would be to reinstate the Ramsgate to Dunkirk ferry. 'We used to do 'flasher trips' to France, didn't we girls?' says Mrs C, to a hum of approval. 'You'd get on for a quid, flash your passport, have a disco and a smorgasbord, then stock up on duty-free and sail home. We didn't even get off in Dunkirk. Happy days. They need to bring the ferry back.' That's the plan, only attempts by Thanet district council (rated 1.8 out of 5 on Google) to entice a new operator have hitherto failed. The region's nascent wind industry has at least got going, bringing jobs to a region where the once-thriving fishing industry clings on like a limpet. Doing my bit for the local economy, I head across the road to Pete's Fish Factory, which lures me in with the smell of deep-fried delights. I order cod and chips to eat near the marina. Mick Huggett has the same idea. 'I'm here on a beano,' the Londoner tells me. A beano, for the uninitiated, is a traditional Cockney daytrip to the seaside, usually involving pub visits and sunburn. Watch the Jolly Boys' Outing episode of Only Fools and Horses and you'll get the gist. 'We got off the coach at midday and were straight in the pub. We've been on it since. It's nice to get out of bloody London,' says Huggett, a technical services coordinator. 'We've done Brighton a few times, Margate, too. I'm pleasantly surprised by Ramsgate. People said it was a bit rundown, but it's lovely.' It's hard to disagree as I walk around town, which Van Gogh wrote fondly of during his brief stint here as a teacher. Ramsgate's Victorian architecture is charming. I lose myself down narrow lanes, lingering outside antique shops and art galleries, and pretty pubs like the Horse and Groom, where leather-clad punks share space with pensioners wearing Reform badges. Acting on an earlier recommendation from McAleer, I walk uphill, following the giant Victorian arches overlooking the marina to Seabird, one of her favourite bars. I'm passed three times along the way by a bloke driving a flatbed Transit, with branches in the back, techno on the stereo and a beer in his hand. But that's Ramsgate. 'You could walk down the street wearing a bin bag on your head and nobody would bat an eyelid,' says Seabird's manager Ellie Dobson, while a flat-capped DJ spins funk. Seabird, which sells 'killer cocktails' and small plates, is new to Ramsgate and a welcome step change from the raucous old town. 'Everything is made here,' coos Dobson, tickling my palate with fragrant potions which slip down with notes of fresh mint and coriander. Seabird's owners Damian Williams and Stuart Langley are hospitality veterans from London, which is not a dirty word in here. 'There are two types of DFLs,' Dobson explains. 'You've got your down-from-Londons and your d***s-from-Londons.' Her colleague Frankie Alphonso belongs to the former camp, but encountered plenty of the latter in nearby Margate, where she moved on an impulse, but never felt accepted by the cliquey 'cool kids'. She feels more at home in Ramsgate, where she lives now. I'm minded of a sense of belonging later, walking past the Red Lion, where a band covers Creep by Radiohead. 'I'm a weirdoooooo, what the hell am I doing here?' the singer wails. He's in good company. Plenty of weirdos in Ramsgate, thank heavens.
