please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
This pub became one of the latest victims of Wetherspoons closures on 13th February 2016.
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Lloyds No.1 Bar in a rather depressing town centre. My visit was an improptu afternoon one after missing a train. Some of the characters seemed a little odd. But Wetherspoons do tend to attract all kinds. The bar staff were all very cheerful. Beers on were Three Castles Starry Eyed, Hook Norton Old Hooky, Greene King Abbot & Ruddles Best & Brains SA Gold. Ciders were Old Rosie, Wyld Wood & Marcle Hill from Westons and Gwynt y Ddraig Black Dragon. It's only about a 5-10 minute walk from the station and probably worth the effort and to bypass the 2 pubs outside the station. Although in fairness, I didn't try either of these. So I may be doing them an injustice.
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Still tends to be the place for all-day dribblers and the like in Swindon, but in the evening their effect is diluted when it is pretty busy and regular after-work drinkers appear, to whom the "Airport Waiting Lounge" tag mentioned in an earlier review is a fair description. Reasonable pub, usual sort of Wetherspoons really, always got something interesting on beer-wise.
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Just managed to squeeze in a pint of Bath SPA before dashing for my train. Beer was fine and we got served pretty quickly. Not bad for a Wetherspoons although The Savoy probably just beats it in my opinion.
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As I've just reviewed the other 2 'spoons I'd better do this one too.
At the moment this is probably my personal choice of the 3 Wetherspoons in the Town centre, purely because the service tends to be better, and they seem to have a better selection of real ciders. The barstaff are friendly, surroundings are alright, clientelle are sometimes a bit........less than desireable, but the place is big enough to avoid those that you want to. And it's the closest of the 3 to the station. Good meeting place, pretty good Wetherspoons!!
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A charmless, soulless, drinking shed popular with Giro Jims and young mums with yelling brats in perambulators.
On the plus side, the ales seem to be well kept and the bar service is fairly friendly and efficient. Also, it is never totally packed, unlike the Sir Daniel (which is a short stagger down Fleet Street).
It's ok for a quick pint or two.
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Popped in for a late breakfast with four friends. I recommended this place having visited many wetherspoons over the years and enjoyed the food each time. Well really wish we hadn't bothered!!
We waited almost an hour for our food to arrive, and when it finally did it was rank. bacon barely cooked, eggs either rubberised or so undercooked that even the whites were runny. Everything was cold. toast was either blackened or raw( ie bread!!). Some items were missing and when asked about, they admitted they didn't have them. It was only when we complained that we were offered alternatives. Despite me stating numerous times that I was allergic to mushrooms, they still presented us with a plate containing mushrooms together with the other alternatives... so couldn't eat any of that. The only hot item was the cups of tea so guess that was a blessing. As there were so few staff about, we gave up and ate what we could, we were starving by this point.
Eventually we managed to attract the attention of the staff and a 'manager' was located, who whined how she couldn't judge the food as it had been cleared away by then , though the tray of toast was still there. I pointed out the bread they tried to pass off as toast and she merely smirked at me. She complained to US about her staff and how one of said staff had arrived in tears and refused to wortk ... that is our problem how exactly?
We were offered one cup of tea between the 5 of us as recompense !!! After some firm but polite complaining she finally refunded part of our food charges and gave us all a free cuppa ... which was hot at least!
Vile food, shoddy service and a real shame as have visited some lovely wetherspoons around the country, this was such a let down. I suggest staying home and cooking your own breakfast next time.. cheaper and tastier!
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One of the less attractive JDWs, in a modern, soulless building, but it fits in nicely with the other shops in this part of Swindon's town centre. The pub (and I use the term loosely) is busy yet has no real atmosphere. It consists of a single large bar, reminiscent of an airport lounge only dirtier. There is a small garden to the rear, but I couldn't get into it because of the number of smokers hogging it. Staff were friendly and efficient. There were seven beers on, I tried the Box Steam Brewery Tunnel Vision, which was fine if a little too cool. Worth including on a crawl or a quick pint pint in passing, but not somewhere to spend an evening.
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As good as the usual Spoons.
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Went in here at 1230 on Sunday, about 10 people in, the usual suspects, but even with this few customers W*nkerspoons still managed a queue at the bar. 3 members of staff on, 2 busy doing nothing and one serving. The main real ales seemed to be named 'sorry not available', but hey �4.09 for 2 pints can't be bad.
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What a difference!
Went in there last night and a great time, friendly staff, clean and fresh toilets, decent cheap drink, tidy beer garden with heat lamps that work! Will definitly be going back again.....so much better than the Savoy...that place has gone down hill in the last couple of months
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Keeps the dribblers out of the other pubs in the town, although the Savoy also has its collection of derelicts who frequent the front of the pub. Would not be a surprise of if they had a counter here for cashing giros.
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Of the 3 Wetherspoons in Swindon, this seems to be the one where all the local bums and winos hang out. Never been a good atmosphere in here. The place feels more like a community centre (a care in the community centre) than a pub.
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not my fave spoon pub...prefer the savoy further up the precinct..feels like im drinking in a huge hall..no character..beer was good on my visit and had a good selection of ale on.
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Very good wetherspoons on visit. Was not too overcrowded which probably made it feel better. But the service was quick and the food arrived fast as well
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Although smaller than the other Wetherspoons in Swindon, the Grove Company Inn probably gets my
vote for speed of service.
The usual Wethers menu is on offer, in addition to a good range of very reasonably
priced beers.
I've always found the bar staff to be friendly and efficient.
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Staff unsmiling yesterday,having to serve customers seems to be an incredible annoyance even when only bout a dozen punters in.
AND BEER FESTIVAL-WHAT BEER FESTIVAL? Ten handpulls,2 regular ales and 3 beer fest ales,5 blanks. Answer from the "duty manager"-the "manager" says that all we're to have on...... Halloween festival should end around mid-December then.
If you want plain Spoons go up the Savoy. Though the staff there as overworked as in every other spoons-they still have manners and still occasionally smile-TIM PLEASE VISIT THE GROVES AND SORT THEM OUT!!!
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Cheap and not too cheerful. Not enough staff to cope which is probably why they aren't smiling. Busy though.
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Most of the staff are friendly and happy.Often not enough people serving to cope. Good prices for beer and food.
anonymous - 2 Jun 2006 10:21 |
A dismal venue, but the beer is okay and the location is convenient. Last time I was there a fight spilled out onto the street and the emergency services had to be called.
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Its full of chavs!!!! otherwise very nice place, cant wait till there is some music in there..... and the bar staff are always very friendly(apart from a guy called tom, he is just rude) and of course the prices are great!!!!!!
anonymous - 21 Feb 2006 15:25 |
Attractive pub. Great for a quiet lunchtime drink with mates: plenty of seats; friendly staff; very fast service for both drink and food; a good range of ales at low prices; great selection of nosh. I highly recommend it.
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Swindon's "posh" 'spoons. Nicer than your average wetherspoons.
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A Wetherspoons with a distinctly Wetherspoons crowd, well-below average and obviously catering for those caught short (of a few pennies)...scary at times
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Being a wetherspoons its always good value cheapie drinks, but also means no music.
Ok for a few drinks before moving on somewhere else because the punters who are in there all night tend to be the rowdy, scummy, wino crowd....if your one of them then you'll love it and be in here all night...If not then there are far nicer places to go for a night out.
Col - 14 Oct 2004 09:18 |
I think this pub is ok if you are short of money because drink is always cheap.I do like the pub but the main thing missing is music i think it would be better if they maybe had some background music on.Food is good to and you dont wait long for it either.
kat - 14 Sep 2004 19:05 |
