Latest news with #JoelSimpson
Daily Mail
23-07-2025
- Daily Mail
I'm an American in the UK - here's what I found ridiculous after trying Wetherspoons for the first time
An American tourist who visited Wetherspoons for the first time has revealed his shock over the budget boozer's 'ridiculous' menu prices. Joel Simpson, who goes by ItsJPS on YouTube, documented his trip to the UK this month, spending the majority of his week-long break in London and Brighton. Towards the tail end of his trip, the content creator decided to stop by Yorkshire, where he toured the scenic moors of the Yorkshire Dales and marvelled at the historic Durham Cathedral. Accompanied by three British friends, Joel decided to seal his visit to the northern region with an obligatory meal at Wetherspoons, which he excitedly admitted he was trying out for the first time. A video uploaded to his channel on 18 July shows the group heading into The Postern Gate, one of the chain's five York venues, before taking their seats and ordering from the menu. The following scene shows a hearty spread of loaded chips, ten chicken wings and a pepperoni pizza, which Joel noted was all purchased for £15. He commented: 'It's stupid cheap. It's so much food... I think we'll be able to finish this... maybe.' The tourist added that he 'wished' the United States offered similar value-for-money meals in restaurants and politely encouraged Brits to 'be more grateful.' Joel went on to order a series of alcoholic drinks, including four shots of AU Vodka, a pint of Stowford Press cider and a glass of pink Gordon's gin and lemonade. He later reflected on Wetherspoons jaunt, jokingly adding that he enjoyed his 'couple of drinks' but further admitted he was blown away by their 'ridiculously cheap' prices. In another video, Joel also captured his first Sunday dinner experience at a Toby Carvery. Presenting to the camera his mega-packed plate of meat, potatoes and all the trimmings, he commented on the 'ridiculous' options at the pub chain. He added: 'I've had Sunday roasts in the past, but not with this many ingredients on the plate. The plate is so damn full you don't even know what's on it. Half the plate is covered up.' In the comments, hundreds of British viewers commended the American visitor's enthusiasm for UK pub culture. One person wrote: 'Your passion for the pub is admirable. You are truly a Brit at heart.' Another said: 'Joel, enjoyed this video a lot. You are honestly a little treasure. Thank you for embracing the UK so much.' In the comments, hundreds of British viewers commended the American visitor's enthusiasm for UK pub culture. Finally, one viewer joked: 'So glad to see that you have arrived home with a drink problem. Problem - NO Wetherspoons.' Meanwhile an American tourist visiting the UK has admitted that British weather 'feels different' and the heat is more severe. Content creator Kalani Ghost Hunter, real name Kalani Smith, from Tennessee, has spent months travelling around the UK in a bid to immerse himself in the culture - from sampling afternoon teas to attempting to find the best chippy. Americans have been known to poke fun at Brits who complain about the weather with some calling them 'dramatic' and claiming they wouldn't '.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
American tourist visits Wetherspoons for first time - and finds one thing 'ridiculous'
American tourist Joel Simpson, known as ItsJPS, visited Wetherspoon's Postern Gate during a trip to York - and he was impressed with the price of the food An American tourist was gobsmacked by the incredible value for money he found at a Yorkshire Wetherspoon. Joel Simpson, also known as ItsJPS, popped into The Postern Gate during his visit to York. Joel mentioned he enjoyed a "couple of drinks" at the pub, finding them "ridiculously cheap". In his YouTube video, he also shared that he snagged three plates of food for a mere £15. In the footage, he said: "We've got loaded chips, pepperoni pizza and 10 chicken wings for 15 quid. It's stupid cheap. It's so much food — I think we'll be able to finish this... maybe." He urged: "Too many people moan about Wetherspoon's quality. I wish we had something like this in the United States, so please be more grateful." But it wasn't just Spoons that impressed Joel on his jaunt to York. Earlier that day, he tucked into a Sunday dinner at Toby Carvery. Proudly presenting his loaded plate, Joel exclaimed: "I can't even see half of the plate. There's so much underneath that you can't even see what I got." He continued: "The amount of options here is ridiculous. I've had Sunday roasts in the past, but not with this many ingredients on the plate." He joked: "The plate is so damn full you don't even know what's on it. Half the plate is covered up." Joel has been sharing various experiences from his travels across the UK. His previous trip led him to a newfound admiration for British trains, prompting a visit to the National Railway Museum in York. He observed that it was "super easy" to navigate train stations and find the correct platform, boasting that his trains were "never delayed" by more than a minute or so. He said: "If I lived in Britain, I feel like... especially if I lived in a city, a car may not be necessary. And that brings me to my second point, which is the compactness of cities and city centres." The YouTuber shared that he didn't need to use public transport in "almost any" of the cities he visited, as walking proved to be an "adequate" and even "enjoyable" means of getting around due to the "compact" nature of the areas. He added that the centres were "strategically placed". Joel's second trip to the UK also deepened his appreciation for British pub culture. He recognises that pubs offer more than just a spot for a cold pint; they are often focal points of community life. He commented: "The pub is a place you can just go and talk to your neighbour, get to know your neighbour and just enjoy a pint. It's not really about the partying as much as it is the sense of community and having the Sunday roast and things like that." However, he admits that his positive view doesn't apply to every pub. Food continued to be a highlight for Joel during his stay, and he has become quite fond of the supermarket meal deal while exploring the UK. He treated himself to a Tesco meal deal daily during his journey, confessing he never grew "tired" of the wallet-friendly lunch choice. He noted that there's nothing quite comparable back in the States and praised the extensive selection available, dubbing it a "never-ending stream of goodness" that continually held its charm.
