CHECK our interactive map to see the best Wetherspoons in Britain, which range from a supping a pint in an art-deco theatre to a huge “secret weapon” at the seaside.
There’s no denying the Tim Martin-owned high street chain of boozers are hugely popular thanks to them offering competitively priced drinks, cheap and hearty food, a welcoming family-friendly atmosphere – and not to mention the often eye-dazzling carpets.
Now, holiday company MyUKTour has begun offering two separate seven-day tours of some of the most notable Wetherspoons.
One tour focuses on the North of England while the other heads down South.
Those signing up can refresh themselves at places like The Corn Exchange in Bury St Edmunds, described as “Britain’s poshest Spoons, The Golden Lion in Rochester, which is said to have the “best carpet” and Ramsgate’s Royal Victoria Pavilion which is the biggest Spoons of them all.
Martin has been shaking things up though as the cost of living continues to bite and some of the lower-turnover pubs have been shutting up shop with the focus now more on high-footfall venues, such as the upcoming The Lion and Unicorn at Waterloo Station which is due to open later this year.
The strategy appears to be working with profits on the rise and Martin says he is planning on opening around 200 more venues.
It remains to be seen if those sites though can match the splendour of these:
The art-deco insides of the Caley Picture House in Edinburgh make it look like it could feature in the Great Gatsby.
The building used to be part of a hotel before it was transformed into a cinema.
Some original features remain, including a large screen area and balcony, with the upstairs mezzanine level offering the best views.
If that wasn’t enough, it’s also been a music venue and nightclub before becoming a boozer in 2016.
The restoration was meant to showcase various original features, including trumpet-shaped pendant lighting and diamond-shaped mirrors in the loos.
Outside of London‘s Liverpool Street Station is Hamilton Hall, which at one stage was a ballroom in the Great Eastern Hotel, opening in 1884.
The building’s plain outside belies the impressive interior, which is decked out with gold and a grand chandelier.
Visitors need only look up at the elaborate ceiling for a glimpse of its past as an impressive ballroom.
It was named after Lord Claud Hamilton, who was the chairman of the railway which built the station.
The venue opens its doors at 7am, serving breakfast and pints and TV screens display the train times.
Ramsgate’s Royal Victoria Pavilion holds the title of the world’s biggest Wetherspoons.
It is housed in a beautiful Grade II listed building that dates back to both the Victorian and Edwardian periods.
It now offers patrons pints with a view of the sea.
The French-classical revival structure first opened in 1903 and had fallen into disrepair before it was rescued by Wetherspoons and reopened in 2017.
This historic pub pre-dates any involvement by Tim Martin, and most of that was even before the current venue was built in 1890.
It’s played a key role in Nottingham’s sporting history, with a vital connection being the famous cricket ground which was created by William Clarke on a meadow behind the boozer.
Clarke was the captain of the All-England side and was married to Mary, who ran the inn.
It’s one of the most ‘pub like’ venues Wetherspoons has, featuring a number of rooms, as opposed to a vast, open space, and has dark wood panelling.
The Winter Gardens used to be part of the Royal Baths in Harrogate and provided a place where people could relax.
It first opened in 1897, having been commissioned by Richard Ellis, a man dubbed “the father of Victorian Harrogate”.
Today, the pub still shows of many of the original features from its past, including a decorative glass ceiling, making it one of the most elegant venues in the Wetherspoons portfolio.
One feature you can’t miss is the sweeping bifurcated stone staircase that leads down from the main entrance into the bar.
