Originally Posted by Escapee (Post 35101125)

In one word 'Atmosphere'

Wetherspoons lacks it, also my local Wetherspoons as others I have visited have the worst service of any pub I have visited. A few times I have walked in,waited for 5 mins and then walked out and gone to my local. The ratio of staff serving to customer is high, but the efficiency/time serving is very poor.

At least I never wait long in my local, because if there is a queue I have the owners blessing to go behind the bar and serve myself. I do this when they are busy, leaving the money behind the bar for the drink/drinks.

ps. I never drink at home, and to be honest I'm not a big boozer at the pub. Sometimes when I'm away early Saturday morning on my motorbike, I go on a Friday night and drink coke or a few shandy just to have a chat with my mates.

Originally Posted by gazfan (Post 35101135)

Good point about 'atmosphere', but it often means different things to different people. Personally, I prefer a pub to be cosy & warm, but quiet enough to hold a conversation.

You are lucky to have the kind of relationship you have with your local, it sounds ideal.

Unfortunately, as I said previously, price wise I have the choice of £3 to drink a bottle of wine at home, or £3.50 to drink one glass in the pub.

- hence I tend to drink only at home.