Rant: Wetherspoons

DebtHater

We visited a local Wetherspoons one day last week, it was about 11:30am and we were going in there for "post-wedding" drinks before we headed off to the restaurant for a meal.

We ordered one round, there was only 5 of us (4 adults and 1 5 year old child), and we sat in the beer garden. There were only 3 alcoholic drinks out of the 5, the child obviously having a soft drink.

We went to order another round and were pretty much told that if we didnt order a meal for the child, we would be refused service. He wouldnt even let me order my own alcoholic drink, because we had a minor present and the minor "has" to have a meal when there is alcohol present.
Now, I know this is the case if a minor wants to have a cider/wine, they are allowed if its with a meal. But we didnt want any meals, just a couple rounds of drinks before we headed off.

The staff member admitted that this wasnt the licensing law, but a "company policy". A ridiculous one at that.

Needless to say, wont ever be going again!

Sandoval

If that's their policy that's their policy!

Clearly in place to stop scumbags taking their poor kids there and making them stand round while they have an all day !!!! up.

I think Wetherspoons will just about ensure the financial body blow your decision not to go back will give them!

colmil

I travel the UK a lot and use Wetherspoons if I can.

I understand your frustration, can I suggest that you'bite the bullet' call in at the pub and pick up a copy of their magazine, their Chaiman, Tim answers letters from customers, or write to him personally

I suppose you could do it on line, too!

Good Luck

glider3560

It seems quite common in my local Wetherspoons for there to be a sign up (very small and usually very high up) which says something about children only being welcome when dining before a certain time.

They don't define children, but I assume teenagers would be ok, they are probably thinking more of younger children.

They are known for having strict "child policies":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1574605/Wetherspoon-sets-two-drink-limit-on-parents.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7170939.stm

threemuttleys

thats been a wetherspoons rule since before I worked there (04-06)

Its a good idea imo, stops the drunkards bringing their poor kids in while they get sloshed

Storck

As far as I know they do it so that it is consistent throughout their whole chain as some of the their pubs have restrictions placed on them by their licensing authority that doesn't allow children in unless dining.

As for the comment about what it means as children it is anyone under the age of 18 so teenagers under 18 would be taken in by this rule.

sillywilly

I have to agree with Debthaters suggestion that the reason the do this is to stop pi55ants going in there with their kids and drinking themselves to oblivion. We have been to our local Whetherspoons for breakfast and there are people in there at 9 AM getting a pint in!!

I would just chalk it down to experience. IMHO I don't think kids should be in the majority of pubs anyway. And if we ever feel the need to go to a pub with the kids then we always find child friendly ones.

As someone said - i doubt Tim Whetherspoon is going to care about the loss of business. Thanks for getting off your chest though. Feel better?

rev_henry

Seems ridiculous in your case but I now see where they're coming from. Wetherspoons does usually seem to be full of middle aged unemployed alcoholics during the daytime. Me and my friends only go there because its cheap (we're 6th formers). Furthermore, they're always right fascists when it comes to ID with us. Once we went in at lunchtime-ish (it was nearly the end of term!) and only 2 out of 4 of us were drinking, the other 2 wanted coke or something, and they wanted ID from all of us. Another time we went in (in an evening) and the girl ID'd us, gave our driving licences back, then ID'd us AGAIN saying 'Oh sorry I looked at the wrong bit'. Useless!

Sandoval

sillywilly wrote: »

I have to agree with Debthaters suggestion that the reason the do this is to stop pi55ants going in there with their kids and drinking themselves to oblivion. We have been to our local Whetherspoons for breakfast and there are people in there at 9 AM getting a pint in!!

I would just chalk it down to experience. IMHO I don't think kids should be in the majority of pubs anyway. And if we ever feel the need to go to a pub with the kids then we always find child friendly ones.

As someone said - i doubt Tim Whetherspoon is going to care about the loss of business. Thanks for getting off your chest though. Feel better?

That was my suggestion!!

How dare you attribute my insightful comment to another poster!

Shame on you!

Sandoval

rev_henry wrote: »

Seems ridiculous in your case but I now see where they're coming from. Wetherspoons does usually seem to be full of middle aged unemployed alcoholics during the daytime. Me and my friends only go there because its cheap (we're 6th formers). Furthermore, they're always right fascists when it comes to ID with us. Once we went in at lunchtime-ish (it was nearly the end of term!) and only 2 out of 4 of us were drinking, the other 2 wanted coke or something, and they wanted ID from all of us. Another time we went in (in an evening) and the girl ID'd us, gave our driving licences back, then ID'd us AGAIN saying 'Oh sorry I looked at the wrong bit'. Useless!

Well I think this whole situation is of your own making!

If you didn't look so damned young you wouldn't have this problem!!

jimbms

I am all for a policy that deters children form having to endure the drunken antics of adults. They allowed you to go in and have a drink but insisted if you wish to stay asked you to have a meal due to the policy of allowing children into their bars. As someone quite rightly said, Wetherspoonswant to keep clear of the image of Waynetta slob sat in the bar with her three benefit earning offspring surrounded by the 17 potential fathers, it is unfortunate that to ensure this that responsible parents are made to endure the same rules, but such is life.