Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
16 September 2008
07:206152#1
Every so often Wetherspoons do a local mailing offering bargains galore at their local Eight Bells watering hole, so here I am to let people know, as in these hard times a bargain is a bargain no matter where you get it. Im not promoting Wetherspoons but making sure as many of us lowly proles as possible get a bargain drink and a bargain dinner.
But you must get hold of the booklet/magazine as its got stacks of offer bearing vouchers with the terrific bargains. As far as I can tell it is being delivered to all households..
Example of the bargains:
Abbotts Real Ale £1.59 a pint
TWO Curry Meals £7.49
Lavazza Coffee 69p
Full Breakfast served til noon £1.99
TWO steak dinners with added Bottle of Wine £17.99
Many more drinks bargains too..so get your book/magazine and rush round. I think I might be up to having that steak dinner.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
16 September 2008
07:256153#2
Its Abbotts for me and coffees for the girls.
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
16 September 2008
07:436155#3
Did you know...and not a lot of people know this...Wetherspoons are the largest seller of Pimms in all the world(it sez here)..well I never. You will have remebered Marek a few of the entourage in there enjoying two jugs of the stuff one day during our brief summer. Ah heady days...glug! glug!
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 September 2008
09:276158#4
Amazingly cheap but no doubt full of preservatives and additives out of microwaves.... But then when times are hard...
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
16 September 2008
09:306160#5
Obtained my brochure this morning.The scissors are out and the coupons are being clipped as we speak.
Pimms a great refreshing drink.I remember my first part time job at the Magnolia Hotel in Jersey.I was being interviewed by the owner Capt D C Sydney for the position of a cocktail barman.
Do you know any good cocktails? he enquired.I didn't dare tell him the one about the crocodile,the old woman and the mallet.
Yes. I lied.
Then how would you make a Pimms No 1?he asked
For the very young forumites there were a large number of Pimms in those days all with different bases and each highlighted by Numbers 1 - 7.
With gawping mouth
and with a stutter I said.I would ask the customer how they would prefer the cocktail being assembled.I didn't have a clue.
Excellent BS!!!.he replied in his Oxbridge accent,smiling.You're hired.It's £7 per week plus board and lodgings.Now heres a fiver to get your haircut buy a pair of black trousers,white shirt and dickie bow he ordered.
A blissful summer followed.
Ah Pimms the memories.....
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
16 September 2008
11:126163#6
I read many postings on here about how we should be promoting local small businesses and yet here we have a promotion by a national chain of pubs and night clubs and it appears that we should all flock to take advantage of their what appears to be cheap beer and microwaved c... food.
The small pub is dying simply because they cannot compete with the likes .of Wetherspoons prices. Personally I think it is a brave man that can drink some of their beer but I do gather it is recommended for constipation.
As for their food you gets what you pays for, microwaved pre-cooked food bougtht in specially for the occasion.
Come on forumites support your local pub not a chain who couldn't care a less whether they serve you or not and as for their Pimms I'd really like to see how they do it as although I don't drink I do know how to do a Pimms the correct way.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 September 2008
12:176164#7
Well said Dave1
16 September 2008
12:266165#8
Well said Dave1 and BarryW. W*therspoons sucks. Terrible food, in my experience. A friend of mine had to send back his full English breakfast THREE TIMES on one occasion last year, because the 'ping-cuisine' kids in the kitchen had neglected to cook the bacon.
The Gordon Ramsay paramilitary wing would issue a fatwa on such horrors.
For seriously great food and service in Dover look no further than The Allotment. Dave Flynn's ever-more-popular restaurant is a seriously class act. And you can just go there for a beer, a glass of good wine and a coffee too.
Support individuality and vitality, not your uncaring corporate nonsense serving merely to satisfy the bean counters.
Regards all,
Andy
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
16 September 2008
13:156166#9
Ah lads lads you deride the working mans pub... dovorians are voting for wetherspoons with their feet and their wallet.Its always packed so they must be doing something people want. Sure, we all nobly decry the collapse of the local pub but its a national collapse brought about by low supermarket drink prices all over, and the smoking ban.
However it must be said...if all those who spoke up for local pubs actually went to their local pubs there wouldnt be a crises.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 September 2008
13:386167#10
PaulB, I spent most of Saturday in my local pub!!!! I would not go into Wetherspoons because I prefer the ambience and company at other establishments.
Pubs are suffering as the first thing people cut back on in hard times is discretionary spending, on such as beer. And, yes PaulB, the cheap supermarket offerings are a menace. Not so sure about the smoking ban, I see a lot of people outside on the pavements sucking frantically away at their poison. I have to say they seem to be a sad sight to me, unable to go a couple of hours without a drag on their addiction.
Some people would still prefer to be discerning and perhaps go for quality over quantity. The Allotment does indeed provide quality food at not unreasonable prices and I hope those like me might not be tempted by the cheap end but still support such quality. Perhaps by cutting down on the number of pints drunk or the number of times you eat out.
Cheap prices does not turn microwave mush into good food. You get what you pay for, I suppose, some people prefer to pay a bit more for something better (and healthier).
By the way, Jeanette, it was great to meet you at last Saturday!
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
16 September 2008
13:496168#11
Far from being the working mans pub I think in an awful lot of instances and I am certainly not unaware of some of the people that drink in there, it is more the dole scroungers and alcoholics pub who want everything for nothing.
Its good for the youngsters on a weekend night where they all meet but the rest of the time its awful, no atmosphere, no staff interaction with the customers, tables that haven't been cleared and a couldn't care a less attitude of some of the staff.
As far as the wallet is concerned if you have to rifle around everywhere to get a cheap drink, give it up, you can live quite happily without it.
Give me the good old fashioned British local any day I'd much rather pay an extra 30p for my J20 and natter to the landlord if I'm on my own.
A major part of our heritage is dying on its feet, the likes of Wetherspoons only contribute more to its death.
I can only say don't moan when all you have left in the town is muli-national companies, you've almost got that now.
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
16 September 2008
13:526169#12
Well said Barry, I think our postings crossed.
16 September 2008
14:296170#13
Deriding the 'working man's pub'? Er, I think not. I spend a lot of my leisure time in so-called 'working man's pubs'. Not being sniffy, but I'm not happy at the inference of snobbery! I simply don't like the often hostile and grimy atmosphere of Dover W*therspoons, cheap booze and grub or no cheap booze and grub. It was much better years ago - in fact, the arrival of The Eight Bells to the town was at the time a real boon - but it's really gone downhill, big-style. The ADB bunch (All-Day Bender boozers) who smoke more than Richborough Power Station at its peak outside the front of the pub are not exactly the most erudite or welcoming gang of rheumy-eyed soaks to greet the passing punter nor the lesser-spotted tourist. The town has had, and could certainly do with, so much better.
Guest 670- Registered: 23 Apr 2008
- Posts: 573
16 September 2008
15:146171#14
The ADB bunch to which you refer Andrew are there for no other reason than the cheap booze. I suppose that when they can't afford that they are off to Pencester Gardens with a few cans of Superstrength.
I don't think snobbery enters into it I have run many pubs, ranging from N.London to Dover and during that time have met countless numbers of people from all walks of life. I never ran a pub whose sole reason for surviving was cheap booze as I knew that would attract an element that was inconsistent with the type of business which I wanted to run.
Wetherspoons survive simply through volume sales, providing that a particular pub meets its target they don't really care where the money comes from.
I do agree that the town deserves better but there are still some very good locals around, The Red Lion springs to mind and the Bar Elle always appears to have the decent drinker sitting outside neither of those are particularly cheap but they are friendly and clean.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
16 September 2008
15:146172#15
Funny you now. Often those who complain that they cant afford fresh decent food, or whatever, often smoke like troopers!!!
Its all a matter of priorities.
Guest 640- Registered: 21 Apr 2007
- Posts: 7,819
16 September 2008
15:426173#16
Well when I went into the Bar Elle with Howard and Keef and it was virtually empty all night with no atmosphere at all. Its very basic. Judging by numbers it isnt what people want. Of course some are better than others.
Last saturday I was at my old old local and a very pleasant evening was had by all. There was a good crowd in thanks to a spill off from the local Leisure Centre Party and that was good for the pub in question. Good to see them getting a windfall. It of course offers a different commercial product totally than the Eight Bells, but I enjoy both at different times so as far as Im concerned there is room for both aspects of social life.
Many more pubs will shut though. Its simple commerce.
Many of you already know I have a background in advertising. And the first thing you do in such a business is recognise the market you have to aim your advertising at. For example the BMW market is a different social class than the Newcastle Brown Ale market. the term class isnt used but a grading scale A, B etc etc is.
As a general summarisation ( and I say general, there will be those either side of the divide) I would say that the local inner Dover pub market is lower socio/economic scale. Therefore the market will be hugely price conscious. This is clearly borne out by the fact that as soon as the supermarkets entered the cheap booze market the weak willed pub customer abandoned all loyallties and fled towards the 50p off sign..leaving closing pubs in his wake. There cant be anything wrong with this argument as its happening everywhere and is quite clearly the case.
Lets face it, most pub customers would cross a shark invested pool to get to another establishment if the booze on offer was cheaper. Of course every pub will have a few loyal geezers propping up the bar but not enough to sustain life.
If you like, Wetherspoons tries to fight the supermarket at its own game. But its too much of a comfort argument to state what Wetherspoons do is rubbish because its clearly not... because it has customers. As BarryW often says..the market decides, and it certainly does with pubs too.
Guest 645- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 4,463
16 September 2008
16:026174#17
Hey Chaps a bit of double standards operating here...
Last week we were all hailing the plans and design for the Dolphin the proposed new Dover Centre Wetherspoons pub.
We can't have it both ways.We want them to build new snazzy establishments and rejuvenate our ailing town centre but then you are all now decrying using the place.It doesn't add up.Wetherspoons is a town centre pub that you can pop into for a pint whilst shopping etc.Your local is hopefully only a short walking distance from your home that you use for a quiet pint and relaxation.They both fulfil two different needs.If Wetherspoons pulled out of Dover it would be the same as McDonalds pulling out of town .In that the big multi chains had decided that Dover was no longer viable.I'm afraid regardless of ones own thoughts on Big Macs or a cheap pint Dover needs them both to stay exactly where they are.Like it or lump it.
As Andrew wrote on the snoops thread ''That design is excellent. Let's hope it goes ahead''.No mention or critisism of yet another boozers paradise opening in Dover.''Come on DDC get your finger out'' he continued enthusiastically. I agree Andrew lets try and support new ventures.If a new dentist were to open I would welcome it but not necessarily look forward to having my teeth pulled there..lol
Marek
I think therefore I am (not a Tory supporter)
Guest 651- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 5,673
16 September 2008
16:266175#18
Not sure we can blast a chain store like this in town - what if WHS, M&S, Boots, Woolies, McDonalds, Iceland, Somerfields pulled out what would be left ???
Been nice knowing you :)
16 September 2008
16:556176#19
I'm not against the presence of W*therspoons in Dover per se; in fact I would welcome a Lloyds No1 version of the chain in the Art Deco Castle Street tree house.
However, what we need is variety - like we used to have. I know it all comes down to commerce and the spending power of the local populace, but surely not every town centre pub has to be an identikit chav-addled booze hangar.
And yes, the Red Lion and the White Horse are still nice places for a drink (as would Blakes be again, if it got an injection of atmosphere and put the bar upstairs on street level).
Guest 656- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 2,262
16 September 2008
17:236180#20
AH! variety is the spice of life, I love choice. Now after reading all that rather serious banter
I'm in need of a drink or two, so where do I fancy tonight?
