Unbelievable Wetherspoons Experience

This certainly needs bringing up with JD Wetherspoon. You can contact them at:

J D Wetherspoon plc Wetherspoon House Central Park Reeds Crescent Watford WD24 4QL

or through their website.

On the few occasions I have written, I have received a reply by return. And yes - they do seem to take customer comments seriously>

Would love to know which Wetherspo>I know an obvious answer is not to drink in Wetherspoons, but I would be

_______________________________________________________________________________ Posted Via Uncensored-News.Com - Accounts Starting At $6.95 -

The Worlds Uncensored News Source

I experienced this tactic at Warrington a while ago. I don't make a habit of being in 'spoons late on, but had gone to pick up the better half. What amazed me was that they were still encouraging people to buy volume right until 11 which they had no hope of drinking. i.e. rather than 2 glasses of wine, for a little more you got a bottle.

By 1115 the bouncers had intimidated most people out and there was a vast amount of unfinished beer/ wine etc.

A tad irresponsible methinks.

Mark Enderby

____________________________________________________________________________ ___

In message , Mark Enderby wrote

I've been in the Southend-on-Sea 'spoons where most of the staff were on cleaning duty by 10:30, they have called last orders and time 15 minutes early because the pub clocks had been put forward and the bouncers were 'encouraging' the couple of dozen customers to leave at the time of last orders.

It seems that it is an official JDW policy so there is little point complaining about it to head office.

A group of us had the same experience at The George in Croydon. Pointlessly moving people around the pub at 23:00:01 seems to be a 'Spoons problem.

One friend who could be bothered wrote a complaint and got a letter back, but the messing about, and the needlessly rude and aggressive bouncer, means we haven't been back since.

(I'm slowly training my friends to find some better pubs anyway, convincing them that Beer Circus and the Royal Standard aren't far from the station)

I doubt if it will make any difference. I've seen the same thing in Reading. Judging by the other comments, it would seem that this is common behaviour. Common behaviour across multiple venues can only mean that it's want the company wants.

Paul

In message , Paul Black writes

My old mum told me in about 1975 to never drink anywhere that has a bouncer at the door. It's good advice.

Despite the fact that there is legally AFAIR a 20 minute "drinking up" time?

Brian

But AFAIR a landlord doesn't have to give you a reason for throwing you out of his pub.

I've come across this Spoons tactic as well; also the one that wouldn't let me into the pub after last orders, but before time, had been called. That one was in Slough, for anyone who's interested.

[snip previous post]

I concur. Some friends and I experienced this very same approach at the Xscape "venue" in Milton Keynes, where we'd been skiing in the snowdome. Went for a pint after skiing only to find that the Krays, or some thugs that looked very much like them, appeared to have taken up residence in the place and demanded - at exactly 11pm, just like all the other correspondents in this thread have described - that we move to the door, no we can't stay sat even though we've only got a few mouthfuls left, etc etc.

For reference, the Xscape Wetherspoons would not be worth visiting even without the repugnant attitude of their door staff. The beer was second rate, the tables were all completely covered in uncollected empty bottles and half-drunk pints, the toilets were disgusting and mostly out of order.

Wetherspoons establishments, on the basis of what has been described so far, do not deserve the custom of right-thinking individuals. I certainly won't be going in one again, nor recommending any to friends or anyone else. Their attitude - in a word - sucks.

In article , Paul Black writes

They're going to lose a lot of custom then.

Shame, that, cos you might miss out on some really good ones - like ours in Whitehaven.

I am never in it that late at night so I don't see what happens at

11pm but it is virtually the only pub I go in regularly, now.

Tables always kept cleared and wiped, service at bar strictly in order as far as they can, beers always great - managers keen on real ale - lots of guest beer choice - pump clips turned - only half way, but still turned when beer is finished, until next one goes on, tasters, CAMRA members asked to check new beers before they go on if anyone is in, etc. etc. Toilets are always clean, too.

The current managers are a husband and wife team, and the wife is going to sort ou^^^manage the one in Workington - about 8 miles away, and is determined to get that one up to scratch. Assistant managers are also great, dedicated, hardworking etc.

There are non-JDW pubs in central Manchester that have a similar "policy" of locking people out about 15 minutes before closing time - especially at weekends. One "justification" they tend to offer is that they don't want a sudden influx of people from the concert/opera/play/... which has just finished, as they wouldn't be able to cope in the time avaiable. More than once I've come out of a concert, headed for the nearest pub, and entered to the sound of "last orders please". On one occasion it reached "time gentleman please" and I still hadn't been served.

That doesn't explain the policy of herding people towards the door at bang on closing time though. One can only imagine that the landlord has had enough and wants to shut up shop as soon as possible.

As always if enough people voted with their feet, these people might just review their policies.

Brian

The drinking up time entitles you to be legally drinking after last orders. It is, however, at the landlord's discretion and not an actual legal entitlement. JDW are notorious for being one of the few operators to exercise this discretion. Unfortunately, they do not publicise the fact. Anyway, as of next year, the concept of "drinking up time", is officially abolished.

"Mark Enderby" wrote in news:ckopun$p0c$ snipped-for-privacy@blackmamba.itd.rl.ac.uk:

Similar experience in the City Road Wetherspoons in Cardiff, although this was many months ago. Don't know if it's changed, because I refuse to return.

I've recently given up drinking in any Wetherspoons, day or evening, due to too many instances of poorly kept beer and indifferent bar staff.

My worst experience was in Penarth, where I had to return a pint because it was so foul. In the typical attitude of "do what the customer wants but don't take any notice of what they say", they changed my pint for something else but continued to serve the beer to others. Nothing too unusual there, but I later overheard the person-in-charge behind the bar telling a local that he knew that barrel was off, and that was why he'd put it on at a lower price.

Dave

Similar problems were encountered with the King's Hall in Cheadle Hulme, exacerbated by a highly abusive attitude towards CAMRA members, and this led to the pub being excluded from the Good Beer Guide by the local CAMRA branch.

This was particularly inappropriate as most pubs in the Stockport area have a fairly relaxed attitude towards drinking-up time.

--

"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Which will no doubt cause chaos until the system settles down and people learn what is acceptable.

--

"The mood and temper of the public in regard to the treatment of crime and criminals is one of the most unfailing tests of civilisation in any country." (Winston Churchill)

Tardebigge Ted wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

I've expereinced that a few times myself in Wetherspoons and I also cant help but think that it must be Wetherspoons policy.

I wouldn't just complain to Wetherspoons HQ, I would also report the bouncer to the local council. A bouncers license prevents him/her from being pushy or aggresive towards the customers. Some councils take bouncer regulation very seriously so it could worth a try if you ever expereince this.

All that bother to save on wages!

This seems to be standard policy for many Wetherspoons, including the one in Sheffield. I have also seen them call last orders at 10:55 and refuse to server anyone even though there is five minutes to go.

Customer care + Wetherspoons DON'T seem to go hand in hand.

D