please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
To droggs. Read 'virtually' - they have nearly 1,000 pubs, including those in 8 airports!
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To randolf. Do you never go to an airport?
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To punk. Virtually every Wetherspoons is in a town/city centre!
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not bad for a town centre spoons
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Large, spacious Wetherspoon's in central Watford. Interior well kept; service polite and friendly. Was pleased to find two stouts available (Black Gold and Anastasia's Exile). Both very good, Black Gold the smoother of the two.
I was interested to read on Wikipedia that this site on the High Street was earmarked by the Metropolitan Railway as the place the company would have liked to build a terminus for the Watford branch of the Metropolitan line. Indeed, the building was acquired in preparation for this, but the local council didn't want the railway to go through its recently purchased Cassiobury Park; hence, the line terminates south of the park at a station called 'Watford', but which is some distance from the town centre.
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After the rst of the horrible pubs and clubs on Watford High Street this was a haven of civilisation. The gentle hubbub of conversation, a mixed clientele, and around 10 real ales to choose from. Sadly the Pigswill from Netheravon brewery was lifeless, but the next pint (which I can't remember) was fine. Typical Spoons and you can't knock it for that.
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You know what you're going to get with 'spoons - cavernous pubs, cheap beer, cheap TV dinners, winos, pensioners, students...This one is a little bit smarter than the rest, which probably has something to do with the JDW head office being round the corner.
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One of the better Wetherspoons. Very friendly and genuine welcome from staff, excellent quality and quantity of food - and with the 'meal deals' that include a drink it's hard to understand how they achieve it at the price. Why go anywhere else?
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We popped in there pre-theatre on a Friday night and it was perfect. The ale was good and cheap. We also wanted some food but we didn't have much time. The friendly barman promised quick delivery and he was right. A trio of Irish drinkers decided to sing which was a bit retro but harmless.
Will go there again
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Loved it, the hot dog was good - Needs to be added to the JDW menu, and the beer was excellent, particularly the Scottish stout. Plenty of bar staff, so no complaints at all.
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Typical weathersppons. Good selection of ales always changing. Typical spoons grub (which seems to have improved in last 12 months). Always find a seat and they have silet sports screens (which not all spoons seem to). If you want good cheap ale, spoons is still worth a visit.
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4.4 (as I type this) seems a very harsh rating.
Load of ales on tap and the one I had was well kept and �1.99 a pint.
Considering we were the only people at the bar, had to wait a while to be served with four people ignoring us while we waited.
Didn't feel particularly grim or soulless, although I imagine if the sun wasn't shining then it could feel quite dark inside.
Plenty of daytime barflies, but only to be expected.
More than serves a purpose and you can't argue about the prices or the quality of the beer we had.
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Typical Wetherspoon's, good place to meet pre- and post-match. Can't complain.
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Had a good selection of ales available and decently priced at around �2.30 a pint
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OK, it's standard Wetherspoons formula, but the beer was excellent, a decent mixed grill and coffee for �5.99 and very friendly and helpful bar staff - They must be doing something right. Despite it being busy for a Watford game, no problems at all getting served. Unlike Gann, we had real glasses to drink out of!
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Typically large, some might say soulless Wetherspoons. Long large main bar on two levels. A smaller connected room that is brighter and perhaps more foody. Small patio area at the back which is OK if it's sunny. Ales are generally well kept. Staff a bit hit and miss.
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one of the better wetherspoons pubs!
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only 2nd time in ten years first time being very busy due to gb rugby league match at watford in 98. this time was a sunday afternoon and busy but not packed and got served quickly pint of spitfire at 1-65 was good value and of good quality not the best jb i have been but far from the worst
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Yes I agree it�s a fairly typical large Wetherspoons , which means it�s got about as much charisma as�� any other Moon Under Water around the country. However, when I worked in Watford some 20 years back, the high street and surrounding area inside the ring road was completely void of pubs and bars serving real ale. And actually, although the town centre has been reformed with many drinking establishments since then, it still remains a desert for real ale. Therefore the difference with this �spoons is that it stands out as a beacon of light for those who want to find a decent pint whilst on the high street.
As RogerB describes below, there are 18 Real Ale hand pumps along the length of the bar, which usually support in excess of 12 different ales, and several from regional smaller breweries. Including, as also mentioned at least two from one of my favourite smaller breweries, The Rebellion Beer Co in Marlow.
It is a very very big spoons , and as a consequence does tend to get very busy. But I have usually managed to get served in a reasonable time and find a clean empty table. So decided to visit again yesterday lunchtime when the wife finally extracted herself from The Harlequin Centre.
And even though I�d cocked up by completely forgetting that it was the first day of the new championship football season and the place was packed with football fans, once again we managed to find a clean empty table in one of the back room areas, was served within 3 minutes of appearing at the bar and our two meals turned up within 15 minutes of that. So in this respect I can�t complain.
And also I can�t complain about the pints of Rebellion IPA and Butcombe Blond I had. In fact the only things I could gripe about was having to drink out of plastic due to it being a match day and I experienced the beers not available but clips not reversed described by Roger below.
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Typical wetherspoons long bar no barmaids, seriously it takes ages getting served. Worth avoiding.
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Having now visited this Pub on two occasions, I am surprised by the negativity. On my recent visit, the service was once again very good, and the real ales were well-served, albeit in plastic glasses. Not over-busy considering it was a match day with not too many other pubs open. Breakfast was the usual good quality and large quantity, and served very quickly. The toilets (Gents at least) are not the best I have ever seen in a Wetherspoons, but I can cope with that.
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Deceptively large Wetherspoons although it was probably not a fair time to assess the place given that it was it was rammed with football fans prior to the Watford v Spurs cup tie. Despite the masses, the staff managed admirably on the service front given that they were swamped with customers. An impressive 18 pumps in all lined up along the long bar with a section devoted mainly to Rebellion beers. Unfortunately it was difficult to tell how many were actually available as many of the clips were not reversed, a task not too onerous even if it is busy and it would have made ordering a lot easier. Forthcoming beers are shown behind the bar. The plastic glasses on match days can�t really be blamed on the pub as it is more likely to be a licensing coindition. Apart from the spacious (on non match days) main bar there are a further 3 rooms to the rear and sides, all of similar size, layout and d�cor. The colour scheme is fairly light and despite the low ceilings, it doesn�t feel as closed in or claustrophobic as some of the other similar Wetherspoon outlets. The local historical snippets that Wetherspoons seem to install in all their pubs revolve around the sadly demolished Cassiobury House but there are a few interesting adverts dotted about in particular an estate agent advert for a 1930�s semi � price �675, enough to make you cry. Given the circumstances of my visit, the place came across as an above average example of the more formulaic type of �Spoons with a far superior beer selection (which is always the main purpose of a �Spoons visit anyway). It would be interesting to see how it fares on a non-match day though.
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On a match day they are well organised with the bar staff each serving a section of the bar and watching carefully to see who is next to be served. Plastic glasses only, and no bottles are allowed to cross the bar. Unfortunately, some punters were ordering two of everything which made even this system seem quite slow. Good range of guest ales in good condition.
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For a town where Wetherspoons have their Head Office this pub is an insult to a company that normally run good establishments.
Doesn't it ever get visited by their senior management?
The other comments mentioning it being "dirt cheap" sound read just dirty.
Its hard to find a decent unmarked table let alone a clean one.
Staff seem more interested in feeding their own faces than catering for their customers. Unkempt bar and food serving staff who look like they have forgotten the basic prinicpals in hygiene.
If this was the only Wetherspoons you have ever been to dont let it put you off . There are better ones all over the UK just sad that this one is so rank.
Whoever is meant to be managing this pub start doing what you get paid for and Manage!
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Standard Wetherspoons Pub with cheap food and a lack of atmosphere. The real ale was particularly good here, with a good choice, and all in top condition. Service was surprisingly good, especially as I was competing for attention with a number of under-dressed teenagers one evening!
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I was not aware that the Duke of Edinburgh drank in Wetherspoons!!!!
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still cheap(the only good thing) is the old man who looks like the dad from royal family still drinking in this hole!!!!! true cheap drinks champion.
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The place is dirt cheap and, to be fair, Wetherspoons will at least give you a couple of decent guests ales to try.
Used to be called the Moon Under Age locally and when i first moved to watford was mazed to see a little speccy Harry Potter staggering from the bar with an armful of pints for his chums. Seems a bit better on that front now.
It's better in the evening with a mixed crowd but if you pop in for a cheap lunch out it's a bit soul-crushing with loads of old trampy blokes and benefits sick-listers boozing away in the bar area.
At times I've noticed the bar staff are terrible - they just chuck any untrained kid out there but recently this has been tightened up and service isn't too bad for a chain bar.
Smells nicer after the smoking ban, which is good.
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Typical Wetherspoons. Large, with smoking/non-smoking areas and an outside area which catches the sun quite nicely.
Large range of ales on show but most of it was off, including the London Pride. The Spitfire was on good form though.
I ordered the soup of the day which I was told was "mixed vegetable" and when it arrived it was actually chicken soup, quite nice, but not pipng hot.
There's a beer festical advertised for the end of April and I'd probably give it another try.
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Cheap beer, hence the large number of postmen and chronic alcoholics perched on the tables near the bar. Not bad in a group but a bit like drinking in a huge airport or hotel bar.
How the bloke who owns the chain can claim he wanted to create the perfect pub is beyond me..
Large range of beers but usually way too cold for real ale..
anonymous - 29 Mar 2007 17:58 |
I'm not a huge fan of this place... there's no kind of atmosphere, there's usually a less-than-pleasant mix of leery men and gaggles of kids that look about 12... having said that, it's a good place to kick start the evening with mates if you fancy a couple of cheap cocktail pitchers and some chips (in true Wetherspoons style), but clear out to somewhere better before it gets too busy!
Didn't realise the Wetherspoons HQ was in Watford... hmmm
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About as good as it gets in Watford town centre. At least you know what to expect with a wetherspoons pub.
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Great on a Watford FC match day - the ratio of police to punters is almost 1:1 giving your that reassuring feeling that if trouble does start they'll be in to save you.
anonymous - 15 Nov 2006 18:24 |
If you are looking for an interesting real ale range, seek out the genuine freehouses that are committed to providing just that - they do exist, up and down the country. Unlike Wetherspoons, you will find you get to enjoy ales in decent condition, and also unlike Wetherspoons you won't find half of the ales advertised have in fact run out.
You will also find they have an atmosphere less like a doctor's waiting room in a depressed former mining town - like almost all Wetherspoons do. You'll be supporting a small business, and you will meet interesting people who share your interest in beer.
If your aim is simply to drink the cheapest pint you can, regardless of quality, then I concede you may be on to something with Wetherspoons ...
anonymous - 25 Sep 2006 12:55 |
Stonch
I agree with you I am totally committed to JDW!!! I think the white men in coats are coming to get me soon!!
My friends and I plan a short crawl of up to 3 pubs usually visiting them on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The visits are during the day and we are never there after 8 pm, especially on a Saturday. We go for the selection of real ales as most other non-JDW pubs just do not offer the range. If they do you are looking at up to �1 a pint more. I must admit we have taken to nipping out to McDonalds, Greggs or some other equally unhealthy outlet as Wetherspoon's food is reaching an all time low. It really is a major effort to eat in one of their places these days. In closing I would say we have visited about 150 of their pubs all in the SE of England and London. So as you said we really are beyond redemption.
I don't know. Have you read the latest JDW own trumpet blowing magazine which features some odd character who has visited ALL their outlets. Even we don't aspire to that!
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Wyndham, I certainly wouldn't argue with your negative statements below about Wetherspoons.
What puzzles me somewhat is that you appear to only visit JDW pubs - you've reviewed tons of them and nothing else.
Glutton for punishment?
anonymous - 22 Sep 2006 21:48 |
I have visited this pub but it obviously made no impression.
As other critics mention, this establishment is down the road from Wetherspoons HQ. You would think it would be a show-piece. I feel that since Tim Martin gave up leading from the front and took a background role, i.e. visiting different pubs most days of the week, the whole JDW ethos has gone backwards. The company is run by a youngish accountant who I very much doubt is much of a beer pub devotee. All he can see is profits and this is helped by the binge drinking antics of the teeny boppers and other associated slapheads. It doesn't matter what the place is like as long as the drink is cheap.
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This place is great. Used to be terrible(see other reviews) but they've really got they're act together, food great, good range of all spirits and ales service no worse than any where else in Watford. Young people everywhere you go so nothing new there. I love this place.
anonymous - 4 Sep 2006 20:13 |
This pub is hilarious!! Full of dirty old men and people who aren't all there. Only 19 myself but the drinks are sooooo cheap 1.30 for a Reef..bargin!!!! Just go in there to laugh at everyone!!
anonymous - 20 Aug 2006 16:47 |
as previously mentioned if the MD of wetherspoons bothered to check his "local" he'd probably be disappointed - as usual its at best mediocre, almost drinkable ales, average food, now with added football as well as children (deepest joy)
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This has got to be the worst moons ever, you need an update like the moons in milton keynes, excellent stuff there, this place is a smoky hole, and to all those selfish smokers, why should non-smokers have to breath in your crap, if u dont like that bars are going to be no-smoking tough, why should non-smokers have to breathe it in
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What I find really strange is that this is the WORST Wetherspoons in the country, and yet Wethespoons head office is in Watford! Do they not venture to their own premesis at lunch time? Takes yonks to get served, the bar stuff are pretty useless, and the food, bearing in mind its centralised and all they need do is shove it in the microwave, worse than any other Wetherspoons. Cheap, but gets the blood pressure up.
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It takes soooooo long to get served in here. Drinks are really cheap though, so good as a start to a crawl. Like all Wetherspoons pubs, there's no music, which is a bit of a downer.
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This place is awful. Ever since it's opened it's stunk of piss.
It attracts vermin, both old men in shell suits who sit by the door in the daytimes and other verminous job dodging baldheaded irish types (you know who you are).
Getting served is a nightmare and it's generally bloody terrible. I'd rather pay an extra few pence for a beer and leave the peg at home.
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Queues in ere r a BIG joke massive long bar but sparsely manned.
But very cheap drink u just have to wait 1/2 hour.
Dont like Moons on a whole as there is no music and usually lots of pervee old men.
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This place is a mixed bag. As a student I like the cheap drinks, and ample seating (although it can get busy on Monday 'student' nights). There is always someone I know when I go in there. During the day it is full of drunken Irishmen and old men, but come night it is full of anyone who looks over the age of five to be honest.
The worst thing is the queues. Anytime between 19:30 - 21:30 on a Monday is dreadful. (I don't often go in there on Friday and Saturdays so I can't comment on what the queues are like then). I have often had to wait over half an hour for drinks on a Monday night because there simply aren't enough staff. Possibly 4 or 5 trying to serve 400. If Wetherspoon managers are reading: Please hire more staff on a Monday night.
James - 16 Nov 2004 21:25 |
used to be good, cheap beer and a great place to start a night in the town. Now its just full of kids and oldies. Bar;Me is the place to go!
Adam - 4 Oct 2004 16:06 |
Went there this lunchtime. Son's food was crusty round the edges and served with with baked beans instead of peas and my poppadum's weren't cooked in the middle and burnt round the edges.
However, Leg Before Wicket served beautifully - (as Guest Beer) - and thoroughly enjoyed - as was the Director's.
So try the beer and record comments (I might be being generous) and try the food at your peril!!!!
I felt sorry for the staff. But then I generally do in a Wetherspoon's Pub.
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busy but full of pikeys, miss it unless you wear burberry or use a stick
Dominic - 26 Jun 2004 06:18 |
Does serve some decent ales and has a large 'No Smoking' area.
Why the hell don't the UK follow the Irish example and ban smoking in public places.
Kevin - 2 Jun 2004 15:34 |
I spent alot of time in this place, and I cant remember most of it. Cheap drinks, too many old men.
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All true the place gives me the hump geting served is a joke. Food bad to.
Tony - 6 Feb 2004 19:37 |
i love this pub. its the kind of place you walk around and know everyone. i loved it even before i started working there!!!
clare - 26 Jan 2004 23:34 |
Terrible terrible pub. Was up in watford for the annual watford beer festival from London, and agreed to meet my watford mates in here on Saturday as they were allegdly having a beer festiva there as well. Not one real ale on. Pathetic, and the managress is allegdly one of the better managers. My arse.
thomas - 9 Jan 2004 19:40 |
I agree with the other comments - not enough bar staff. I've walked out on at least 4 different occassions as I don't appreciate being ignored by the bar staff. I've now completely given up on the place.
Dom - 2 Jan 2004 14:54 |
Not enough Bar Staff to the extent that when you do get a chance to order, you order every drink you intend to have there at once!
Jon - 6 Dec 2003 12:21 |
Not enough bar staff on a Friday night - had to wait for too long to get a pint - I recall it was at least 35 minutes.
anonymous - 8 Jul 2003 16:10 |
big, lousy service, too many pissheads due to cheapness. Its a bit grim. Popular with BT staff from nearby offices who seem to spend all day "Lunching"
chris - 23 Apr 2003 11:12 |
Wetherspoons pub, excellent and cheap food. regular promotions and many guest ales.
Doug Beermonster - 25 Aug 2002 10:57 |
