howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#1
not really a surprise in these austere times that they are doing well, though the figures were affected by the weather.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/wetherspoon-remains-cautious-despite-christmas-cheer-6291151.htmlGuest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
#2
I suppose what thrives here is the lowest common denomonator. Pile em high sell em cheap is their approach to things. You dont go in expecting haute cuisine and you dont get it neither!
I see in the article they are planning to open another 50 pubs ..and they have 850 already. This is bucking the trend..they are mopping up the customers that traditional pubs catered for, as it says there in the piece above, the profit on food sponsors the drinks keeping the costs down. It looks like a winning formula at that basic level. No doubt a pint in there is much cheaper than in a traditional pub and indeed this advance forward by Wetherspoons may be responsible for the loss of the traditional pub.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#3
that's basically it they buy their beer close to the sell by date and the food is best not spoken too much about, though their sunday roast is quite good.
the minimal numer of staff can mean a long wait to get served but keeps prices down.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#4
No Howard they don't buy short dated beer. I often get offered ales which Wetherspoons have rejected for that reason.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#5
things must have changed peter, mind you i am talking about ten years ago when i last drank beer in there.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#6
They never have, it's one of those myths which have grown up out of 1. Jealous rivalry and 2. Wetherspoons staff who don't have a clue how to look after ales.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
#7
not a myth to me peter, bought a bottle in one of their pubs in ilford and the date was 3 months past sell by.
Guest 710- Registered: 28 Feb 2011
- Posts: 6,950
#8
Wetherspoons are not quite pubs and are staffed, in the main, by people that have no idea what a pub should be. A few do quite well as bars and are staffed by people that do know what they are about behind a bar. Their till system slows the whole beer buying process down and the time consuming menu options...well... don't get me started.
Pubs are not what they used to be, but not only are they well worth preserving they are well worth recreating.
Wetherspoons have got the bit about converting land-mark, often stone-built, buildings with some architectural merit ( both inside and out) right.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
Guest 698- Registered: 28 May 2010
- Posts: 8,664
#9
Well Howard I would put that down to poor stock rotation.
I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
#10
Had a work xmas meal at the Westgate in Canterbury - the meal did the job for less than £10 with a pint and a desert, and was what I was happy to spend with work colleagues
Been nice knowing you :)
Guest 694- Registered: 22 Mar 2010
- Posts: 778
#11
i was goign to say howard, its down to stock rotation .
i would imagine it was more a case of economies of scale. the more you buy the cheaper it gets?