Wetherspoons In Cork

JT26 wrote: »

Whats your opinions of wetherspoons,worth the visit next time i'm in Cork?

Depends what you like. I like trying different types of beer and I enjoy pale ales in particular. Wetherspoon's offers loads and plenty are at €2.50-€3 for a pint/bottle, so I like going there. They stock local, as well as imported stuff, so you always have a good choice. They also have a good few of the big brands - Beamish, Carlsberg, Coors etc.

They have festivals from time-to-time. I saw one advertised in the UK for March where they'll have about 50 different ales on sale - mostly from the UK, but a decent few are international, as well. One from Ireland (O'Hara's Red). For an Irish Wetherspoon's festival, I'd imagine they'd still have mostly UK beer (although, a few of them would still be from NI) but a few more Irish ones, too. They had a festival in the one in Cork in October and I think they were selling €2 pints. I think all the beer is cask ale ("real ale" being a bigger thing in the UK than here), much like the Franciscan Well's Winter Fest.

They seem to have plenty of wines, spirits and cocktails on sale, too. They wouldn't really be my thing, so don't know a lot about them. But they list about 15 different types of wine and about 50 spirits on their menu, so it looks good choice, to me.

I think it's good for non-drinkers, as well. A good selection of soft drinks, hot drinks etc. A big glass of cola is about €2, which would cost at least a fiver in most pubs.

They have food which is good value for what you get. I don't think it's any worse than most places where you'd be paying a bit more. It's better than most pubs that sell food, anyway. Not Michelin star stuff, but it does the job. I'm always full after a meal there. I'd put the food on par with things that'd cost about €15 for a comparable meal in most restaurants. It's really only the stuff at €20+ that I'd put at the next level, which is grand if you prefer it.

The food and drinks menu was posted earlier in the thread if you want to have a look. Not sure if it's changed much since. I think some of the food might have gotten slightly cheaper, on other food slightly more expensive (although, that might been one of the Dublin ones I'm thinking about).

One or two on this thread have bemoaned the serving time, but I never felt I was waiting too long. They don't take multiple orders, but I don't really see a problem with that. I think bartenders that do that just give the illusion of serving you quicker, anyway. You're still waiting for them to hand others their drinks and take payment/give change, so I don't see how it's massively quicker. The only real slight advantage is maybe when you're drinking stout and they have it settling whilst serving others (though, the two-part pour/2 minute settling period is a load of unnecessary nonsense, anyway). I'm usually waiting for no more than a minute or two before I'm served. You never have any queues at the counter, anyway, so you don't have to shout over anyone to get your order in.

It's generally a relaxed atmosphere. Different groups throughout the day. Families having lunch, friends/couples having dinner, groups having a few drinks, mixes of people drinking alcoholic/non-alcoholic drinks etc. No real pressure to drink. If you want to, great, loads on offer. If don't want to, great, plenty for you, as well. It's always been somewhat busy when I've been in there, but because people are always coming and going, you don't be long waiting for a table.

The bouncers in there are really sound. By far the nicest I've encountered anywhere in Ireland. Usually greet you/open the door for you. When it's close to closing time, if you're upstairs, you're politely asked to move downstairs. You're given plenty of time to finish your drinks and the bouncers might have a chat with you whilst your doing so. All encouraging you to finish up, but in a polite way. Not like the attitude in so many Irish pubs, of "right lads, we have your money, now f*ck off".

Wetherspoon's don't play music, so if that's you're thing, you mightn't like it. Crane Lane or the likes would probably be preferable there. I hate loud music at pubs myself, so I like the no-music policy. They sometimes show sport on a couple of discreet TVs around the place. Only terrestrial stuff, though, I think. If you're looking for something properly sporty, it obviously doesn't compare to the Woolshed. Again, I like that, though. I hate the way that even every old man's pub nowadays has a couple of widescreen tellies to attempt to appeal to a wider audience. If I want to watch a match/matches, I'd go to a proper sports pub. Anywhere that I'm at just for a couple of pints, it's annoying when they have something on in the background that's just distracting.

I don't know whether or not you'll like. Maybe it's your thing, maybe it's not. But I'd recommend to give it a go, for lunch if nothing else. If you don't like it, at least it won't cost you much.

Hes criticizing u for being thrifty !!

The funny thing is, according to some people, if you like craft beer, you're a pretentious pr*ck with more money than sense. But if you go to Wetherspoon's, you're a dole-scrounging classless scumbag. But Wetherspoon's sell craft beer for much cheaper than what the other pubs sell from the big two breweries. So, in that case, you're a pretentious, classless dole-scrounging scumbag pr*ick with no money and more money than sense.

I don't like it and won't support it but see no issue with counter service. Nandos also has counter service and their prices are outrageous for what's essentially a wrap and chips.

Paz-CCFC wrote: »

The funny thing is, according to some people, if you like craft beer, you're a pretentious pr*ck with more money than sense. But if you go to Wetherspoon's, you're a dole-scrounging classless scumbag. But Wetherspoon's sell craft beer for much cheaper than what the other pubs sell from the big two breweries. So, in that case, you're a pretentious, classless dole-scrounging scumbag pr*ick with no money and more money than sense.

Welcome to the internet!

Went yesterday evening, had a Ghost ship which wasn't great and I noticed it was off shortly later, followed by Caledonian Golden XPA which was fine, followed by Robinsons trooper which was pleasant.
Finally a Beamish with the Philly Steak sandwich, both of which were great. 4 pints and my tea for €19.50, an excellent evening.

Curb Your Enthusiasm wrote: »

Anyone else find the tables in there are nearly always dirty or waiting to be cleaned? I nearly always have to call a staff member over to take away plates etc.

It's fine for a cheap pint or plate, but it's pretty average otherwise.

That was a problem alright the other day.
It's funny I was in there a few months ago and I asked for a packet of crisps and the manager couldn't locate any, the barmaid standing beside him said she'd go to the stockroom and get some but he said don't, there's no need, after I asking him for crisps.

The portions are probably what we should be eating, I know I'm guilty of over eating constantly

Seems to be attracting some dodgy looking people. Just going by those sitting outside.

gimmick wrote: »

Called in on Saturday. It certainly seems the novelty has worn off as there was a choice of seats at about 5.30/6pm. Was a tad peckish so ordered a butger with my beer. Dismayed to find that it was with me almost before I got back to my seat. It was grand, not the greatest. There were a few chips with it, but what bothered me is I think they were on someones elses plate before mine as half of them you could see the potato inside them.

Did you complain ?