Spoons- Our Dearly Beloved
Since the opening of their first pub in 1979, Wetherspoon is arguably one of the United Kingdom and Ireland’s most valuable assets. In my opinion, it should be added to our list of British values right alongside fish and chips. Wetherspoons has served us real ale festivals, airport pre-drinks, meal deals, and even hotel stays for over 40 years. Not to mention the affordable prices of food and alcohol. ‘Spoons’ is recognisable nationwide, with 852 pubs in 2022.
I frequently find myself looking for my favourite pub chain everywhere I travel in the UK. No matter what Wetherspoons I enter, I am fulfilled with the same homely feel no matter the occasion. The beloved Wetherspoons, for me, is somewhat of a guilty pleasure… I simply cannot help indulging in ticking a Spoons off my list wherever I go. In fact, out of the 22 spoons in Kent, I am proud to say I have ticked off 13 of them. Must I add Kent is home to the largest and best, in my opinion, Wetherspoons: The Royal Victoria Pavilion. No matter what Spoons you may find yourself in, you know that you have memorised the menu and will be ordering the notorious Chicken Tikka for Curry Club Thursday for £5.99 with a soft drink or upgrade to a cheeky beverage for £7.29… can’t go wrong really! Although this pub chain has served us with greatness for many years, I do feel as though it does not receive the recognition it well and truly deserves. It is an understatement to say that it is underrated. It really isn’t just some dingy local… I promise.
So, if you find yourself reading this article, I hope it inspires you enough to take a trip down to your local Wetherspoons to indulge in all its excellence, and please, for me, try the Chicken Tikka if you haven’t already! Now, let me enlighten you on the greatness of our beloved Spoons.
To begin, if you weren’t already aware, Wetherspoons are notoriously known for converting unconventional premises such as former cinemas, banks and even renovated swimming pools to house their pubs. They can be commended for their attention to detail in each and every pub, right down to the carpets, which are furnished thematically according to the heritage of the building or location. In fact, there is a lot of controversy surrounding Wetherspoons carpets. In 2016, writer and publisher Kit Calees stirred speculation with the question, ‘Are any two Weatherspoon’s carpets the same?’ which has since snowballed into many Spoons enthusiasts trying to solve this mystery, which can be seen here: Wetherspoon’s Carpets (tumblr.com). If you’re wondering if this quest continues, the answer is yes. You never know you may be the one to solve this mystery… I mean, any excuse for a cheeky trip to Spoons?
Next time you find yourself in your local Spoons, and you and your mates are settling into some cheap pre-drinks before a big night out on the town, look around you may learn a thing or two about your local area. Picture this… you are there sipping your Gordon’s double gin and tonic, and you find yourself learning about how in the 19th century, Sittingbourne developed into an industrial town with brickmaking and barge building being the two main industries… see a trip to Spoons can be for educational purposes after all.
Wetherspoons does not stop there though! Although it serves as a great history teacher, the chain has also been great at keeping up with the times. From the Wetherspoons app to Wetherspoons news, they pride themselves on providing the best possible service to their customers by remaining modern and relevant. After all, their motto is CBSM: ‘Cleanliness, beer, service and maintenance’, which from experience I can vouch for… especially the second word!
Looking for a wedding venue… Spoons can provide that too. The pub company provides an all-inclusive package that includes a three-course meal, DJ, and table of wine for 100 guests for only £3000. That’s a no-brainer for any loved-up booze fans. I hear you asking where… you can tie the knot in The Knights Templar Wetherspoons in London. I’ll be waiting for my invitation in the post.
What you should be truly asking yourself is, what do Spoons not provide? Unfortunately, I do have the answer, and that is music. However, this can be easily disputed… Spoons can be thoroughly enjoyed with the company you surround yourself with and the immaculate vibes it delivers. Amongst the hustle and bustle of the pub-goers, who needs the music anyway? In the absence of music, I have met many people and gained many friendships that I will treasure for life, thanks to Spoons.
