Pub chain Wetherspoon reports record loss

[marshbrewer]

Went to spoons with wifey while the youngest was at Guides. It wasn't bad. Guess our local one must be a good one

 

[pilgrimhudd]

Thoughts and prayers

 

[crowcrow]

Knowing what I know now about the man, I avoid a spoons (but that said if a friend wants to go, I'll go, or if it is the best pub on offer), but as a student it was amazing.

London pubs were either out of my price range or grim, but with a spoons you knew exactly what you were getting, the beer was fine with some interesting things to try, the food was OK and damn cheap, and compared to other East London pubs in the year 2000 it was clean and friendly. Shame about his politics, but on the whole he'd built up a good thing that is enjoyed by a lot of people - hopefully he's helped the pub scene in general

That said, if the choice is a spoons or a Sam Smith, I'll go Smith any day, I loved the Champion (bar billiards!), the Blue Tap and the White Horse, all bang in the middle of London and pubs you could have a few beers in for £10 until pretty recently.

 

[Sandimas]

They vary massively. Our local one The Lord High Constable in Gloucester Docks is great, prime location right on the water, staff work really hard to try to keep it clean, and great beers - they had a well-kept Exmoor Gold on last time I was in there.

Contrast that with the one in Burnham-On-Sea, under-staffed, dirty, all empty tables piled high with used plates - we walked straight back out.

I try to use the independents but sometimes 'spoons is the only choice, one winter night up in Scarborough it was literally the only place to get fish n chips after 6.30pm as everything else shut. Wasn't bad either, but was surprised to see Goff's Jouster (a local Cheltenham beer) on, can't get it round here apart from direct from the brewery.

 

[The Baron]

I can only comment on my area, we have 2 in our town which have very few if any "Foreign workers".
Where I work we have lost 2 members of staff who came while the Covid was at its peak and both have gone back to Spoons so they don't think it's that bad?

 

[starseeker]

Why knock Weatherspoons ,decent beers at £2.00 pint , reasonable food for £5 ish, at least people on tight budgets can still have a affordable night out ,

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Why knock Weatherspoons ,decent beers at £2.00 pint , reasonable food for £5 ish, at least people on tight budgets can still have a affordable night out ,

Spot on.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I always visit the one in Southport on a day out and the one in Largs when in Scotland on holiday full fronted glass front over looking the sea

 

[Cheshire Cat]

Well you would not see the sea in Southport

 

[Brewski169]

Why knock Weatherspoons ,decent beers at £2.00 pint , reasonable food for £5 ish, at least people on tight budgets can still have a affordable night out ,

This is why right here

 

[Cwrw666]

Didn't they sack all the staff instead of giving them Furlough? If so serves them right.

 

[marshbrewer]

Didn't they sack all the staff instead of giving them Furlough? If so serves them right.

Urban myth.

When there was no furlough scheme, Martin, not unreasonably, pointed out that if they were closed indefinitely, then they wouldn't be able to pay staff, but if that meant that staff left to take up other opportunities then they would welcome them back with open arms. Twitter / Facebook etc started screaming that this was outrageous, apparently ignoring the fact that if they continued to pay staff while they weren't allowed to trade they would go bankrupt and there would be no jobs for anyone to return to.

As well all know, the government introduced the furlough scheme and Spoons furloughed their staff. Despite actual living Spoons staff pointing this out to people on social media, the legend that evil Tim sacked his staff continues.

Funny place, social media.

 

[Slid]

Both daughters used the Spoons in Lancaster as students and thought it was OK.
As regards Bar Staff, in Bowness-on-Windermere a couple of weeks ago, every business in town had a "Staff Wanted" sign up.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I wonder why he's finding it so difficult to recruit staff, maybe the biter bit.
But Boris can go and work there after he's kick out.

 

[Cwrw666]

Funny place, social media.

It is. I get most of my `news' from THBF and radio 4.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

This is why right here
View attachment 55207

It's strange how Tim looks just like Tim nice but Dim by Harry Enfield.

 

[Horners]

Well you would not see the sea in Southport

I'm a born and bred Sandgrounder- this is a bit of an urban myth. When it does come in, it's quicker than a running horse.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I'm a born and bred Sandgrounder- this is a bit of an urban myth. When it does come in, it's quicker than a running horse.

Dead donkey more like.

 

[starseeker]

This is why right here
View attachment 55207

What ,don't you like the beers on offer ?

 

[Rodcx500z]

I'm a born and bred Sandgrounder- this is a bit of an urban myth. When it does come in, it's quicker than a running horse.

Hi Horners in my younger days we used to go fishing at Arnside on the mouth of the river Lunn they have a klaxon when you here it you grab your gear and leg it