Ice-cold in Wetherspoons

So how come CAMRA endorse so many Wetherspoons pubs?

In article , MPlatting@?.?.invalid writes

Probably because the endorsement predates the introduction of frozen to death beer; they were not killing it last Wednesday.

On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:38:01 +0000, M Platting wrote (in article ):

Yes they've done even more than CAMRA to drive real ale downmarket and ghettoise it.

On Sun, 17 Dec 2006 18:47:14 +0000, M Platting wrote (in article ):

Because there are a lot of easily pleased people in CAMRA.

Following on from Andrew Cameron's message. . .

NO! "all the good pubs have it" is bollocks. Just one example from many - The Swan at Little Totham[1], CAMRA pub of the year /twice/ including this year, has it's CM logo affixed to the wall upside down as a two fingers to CM.

There are hordes of blooming excellent pubs that won't have anything to do with CM. It tends to be chains that pay for and encourage this worthless certification.

[1] I know the history and background of this pub from 'day one' of the current ownership. IMHO it can't be the best pub in the country

Whilst this may be one reason, it is not the only reason.

In our town we have 7 real ale pubs and the wetherspoons is simply the best.

In three of the pubs there is only one boring, common beer which is often badly kept. These three pubs are smokey, noisy; you hear lots of offensive language, and I hate going in them.

In one there are four beers from a brewery that most of us find uninteresting - all beers taste the same: bland!

In another there is more choice - from the biggest regional brewer, but it's very expensive, and they expect you to eat!!!

In one other, there are sometimes 2 guest beers but more often than not the beer is undrinkable.

But in the JDW we have 15 handpulls, usually 12-13 different real ales, 5 from the same regional brewer and 5 rapidly changing guests.

Lots of choice and quality always top rate.

On the rare occasion you get served one from the end of a barrel and the staff don't notice, they are happy to change it when you take it back.

And yes there is Cask Marque, but this summer we were there when the local inspector was sampling and he actually failed them on that visit because of temperature, and revisited after changes were made. We talked to him at the time and he explained and demonstrated.his decision. Since he is a brewer himself, we have great faith in him.

That's it in a nutshell. I'd (pedantically) qualify it somewhat and say some can be good one visit and less good the next, and vice versa, but yes, some have a reputation for usually being a bit dodgy, and others are nearly always excellent. I presume it's down to the enthusiasm of each individual manager and his ability to inspire his staff. And the odd compliment from customers can be a big boost.

Not done Cleckheaton JDW, or Batley for that matter. Can never find Cleckheaton. Or do I mean Heckmondwike or Liversedge?

Oh the old chestnut - or do you mean Birstall or Birstall Smithies... I think it's somewhere around the crossroads with the A62!