please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
A nice range of draught of beers, ten at least, always new ones coming in.
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Had a great Sunday roast here and it looks like so many people did here also in the family eating area. Shame about the loud mouths who were drinking heavily and swearing. Tis a family pub where children are allowed.
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Their food is great and loads of ales to choose from.
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A fairly typical Wetherspoons, as you'd expect there is a decent list of ever changing guest ales. Not much on the tv front, tends to just show the news with subitles, not sure why that is necessary as they don't have music here anyway.
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Has recently aquired a bright young new manager with a great track record, Watch this space. Standards will improve astronomically at The Maidenhead Inn.
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More fantastic ales here at The Maidenhead and many more to come i hope from the Microbreweries.
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Well done JDW for introducing some more new ales into the town at the beer festival time. Had a great Sunday dinner here last week with a bottle of wine: the food was super .
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if they know you are driving they will only let you buy one pint which i thing is wrong
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Quite usual for a JDW pub, tables slightly grubby. Service a little slow, but that could have been because there was only one barman serving.
A pint of "Veto" ale from Batemans was tasty and went well with a late breakfast. The kitchen did know how to serve eggs 'well done', which is not always the case with this chain!
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This place gets shabbier by the day and boasts an increasing number of the types that failed their auditions for 'Shameless'. Pity, because they have a good ale selection that turns over pretty well but the disgusting, foul language - usually at high volume - is an off-put; if it wasn't for the ales, I wouldn't cross the threshold. Their sister pub, Lloyds (down by the cinema), has caught up on the ale front & now offers a similarly well-priced selection of ales with rather more civilised surroundings. Service in both remains traditionally indifferent Wetherspoons, so expect to be ignored for long periods and the occasional pint of sludge from the bottom of a cask. Generally, though, the ale is reasonably well kept. Rated 4 because they have the ales.
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Beer is of consistently good quality over the of late. Interesting guest beers too
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Its a cool place here..Ales are great and fresh..and low priced.
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It's a Wetherspoons so you should know what to expect.
Old men drinking the cheapest ale on offer from 10 am and the usual mixture of unemployed and socially bereft denizens of Basingstoke on display in the smoking garden.
Food here can be particularly bad at weekends. Both service and quality.
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Went with my dad a bit back, excellent range, good beer.
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If you are into draught ales..here's the place cos there's no where else in town that offers a range like this.
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A good turnover of new and old favorite draught ales for the newcomer, well done, cos you don't see it anywhere else in Basingstoke. The chilled bottle selection is as good as ever. The food is good., nice and hot.
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went in while waited for bus had a pint of 1664. abbot not on and did not want any of the cask beer that were avaible. average spoons would go in lloyds number one if in basingstoke
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No where.. Oh crap...I've just answer my own review.
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Super draught beer selection..where else can you get in Basingstoke?
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Yeah - don't bring your mum unless she likes swearing drunks. For those with a thicker skin and a liking for beer, it's the best place in the town. Good range, good turnover. Food is as good as the price; no Michelin stars (that's called 'Irony' if you're American (or from Lancashire). Nevertheless, consistent. Like a Little Chef. If you're a snob stay away; basic is the watchword. Actually, F**k is the watchword.
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Decent spoons.
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Hate to say this but it's a sweary place.it's not as looked after as it used to be. Took my mum in there a few weeks ago and it was full of cavemen swearing. Departed quickly, but mum wanted to stay.
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Hell on earth.
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ventured in again and the place was mobbed with low life punters. cant stomach the food very very slow to arrive and hardly warm but you get what you pay for.. white hart ale tastes fresher by far
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Typical Wetherspoon as regards food (very cheaply priced) and range of ales, but better than most in terms of friendly personal service and a particularly well-kept beer selection at Festival time.
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Never had a prob with this place. Ok, there are few drunken over-chatty undesirables in here who tend to burst into song at the drop of a hat..but that is in the morning at about 11.30 and to be fair..they have been drinking since 09.15 in there. You either like this place or you dont.Nice food..good prices..not bad at all. Good selection of beers..very good.
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This tends to be a regular haunt as it's the nearest I get to a local in Basingstoke. The beer is good and cheap which unfortunately does tend to attract a variety of low life during the day, however they are replaced by groups of hard working students in the evening drinking jugs of blue stuff or bottles of lager before moving on to the clubs etc where the drinks are a lot more expensive. Shame as it could be a really nice boozer.
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5 real ale pumps, 4 of them in use. Decent beer selection, shame about the drunk idiot ruining the atmosphere at 2pm in the afternoon when I went in. Very friendly staff, always willing to chat with you. Beer was good as well.
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loads o ales to choose from ..get yosel in for the festival.
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I wish they would stop this 99p deal ASAP. Now when you enter this pub the regular punters who are spending thier dole money can now afford three times the amount of drink!! Picture the scene, a nice Monday afternoon and beer garden full of such people. Bottle of 99p San Miguel in hand and thier cheap fag in the other. Disgusting.
Otherwise though its pretty good in here now and I agree with previous comments that the service has vastly improved and they are clearing the tables a lot quicker too. Well done to all.
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Still 99p a pint...Ruddles best bitter. and was in super condition.mmm.
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For a wetherspoon pub the beer in here is very good. 5 hand pumps which have two regular and the other three guest ales always changing. Beer always seems to be in great condition and staff are happy to change if you are not happy with the quality. and all for 1.99 a pint
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Not bad as Spoons go, several distinct areas, family friendly and dining at the front, standup drinking in the long, thin, brighter bar area and more some intimate and darker seating areas at the back, both raised and subterranean, There is also a heated patio through the back doors. Decent and drinkable range including one from York Brewery and two local brewers as well as the usual Greene King stuff. Interesting bottles, the Polish beers looked fairly popular. Staff are a cut above the usual standard too.
anonymous - 16 Feb 2009 11:49 |
Popped in again for a beer last night, the range available was good and the quality was alo excellent.
The layout of the pub isn't too good, it's essentially one long corridoor most of the way along and gets quite cramped because too many cahirs and tables have been levered into place. They could also do with turning the lights up a bit, far too dark!!
Overall, worth a visit when quiet if you like your ale but I wouldn't want to spend long in here.
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I went in here for a super breakfast and 2 pinst of strong cider today to drink with it..super stuff..four puonds was all.
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Good ole Wetherspoons now doing 99p a pint Green King IPA! What a deal! And with this place being one of the best pubs in Basingstoke for a great pint of ale, I will definately be making a regular appearence!
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Whats Brewing reported their removal from the 2009 guide, however they are still putting a bill board outside claiming they are included!
Recent festival was good, however although there were plenty of 'black' beers advertised in the programme precious few made an appearnace at this particular outlet
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I have posted some bad reviews about 'Spoons' but the place is growing on me. I always have a great night in here when with a couple of mates and it is pretty cheap too!! All good I just wish that they would be more selective over who they let in as there always seems to be some very annoying people in here. The types that have just signed on and are putting their dole money to good use.
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I hope the Morrisey fox microbrewery get a chance to sell their blonde ales here in Basingstoke.
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I popped in today and wow, what a change! The carpets are clean, the roof doesn't leak and good old Wetherspoons have started another beer festival! The staff have obviously gone to a lot of effort as the place is covered in decorations! Great stuff!
I don't know what Vespags160 is talking about, I did the try 3 beers deal they have and every beer was clear and famtastic tasting! They deserve to be in the good beer guide in my opinion and look like they work hard!
Keep it up!
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Still the best place in Basingstoke to get a variety of ales.
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Removed from the Good Beer Guide, sadly after the 2009 issue was printed. Quite right too. Beer quality is at best questionable. The place is unkempt, the roof leaks when it rains, as does the gents toilet into the saloon...Nice!
If this is the best Weatherspoon's can do...Don't bother?
Cheap ain't good!
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Good ole Wetherspoons for supporting the Micro-brewers.
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Did anyone try the Plum Ale that they had on lately..? tasted of John Smiths' bitter mixed with Ribena. I pass no opinion.
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What Beer was it "kot" the Liberty Bell was fine yesterday!
Winchesterclub
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There were more sticky tables and cloudy beer. When questioned, the 'manager' blamed the bar staff for how they used the handpump. Sheesh, if you are going to pass the buck at least do it properly eh? That makes no difference - cloudy beer is cloudy beer, it is either 'off' or hasn't settled.
This place needs a boot up the proverbial.
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Started drinking out of a proper "Dimpled Jug" thanks to Kat behind the bar for letting me know they have them!
Only a little thing i know, but anything helps when your in a Wetherspoons!
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Dont serve me a drink at 23.55 and then force me to hurry up and drink it at 00.01! Annoying and the staff were quite forceful and rude about it. Shame really because it is nor a bad Wetherspoons just let down by the staff.
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Well done to all the micro brewers who have brewed so many good county ales and distribution.
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At the mo there's a plethora o good draught beers here at spoons.
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Still absolutely the best place for guest ales.
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ive been in worse, but at the end of the day, its just a weatherspoons (i did like the cosy downstairs smoking bit - remember those days?)
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The lunchtime food is ok as are the great ales. Get in quick cos the staff are under pressure and it might be a while before you get noticed or even served.
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I see the money off vouchers are back out
GUINNESS �1.49.CARLING �1.39,ABBOTT ALE �1.29,a pint
Think even i will grin and bear the set of shameless!for a few hours at these prices!
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A very tarted-up �Spoons, looked like something from an IKEA ad, a long way from the dark brown Victoriana of most of their outlets. Very small as well compared to other �Spoons.
Beer decent, lighting very dim, could�ve fallen asleep in the downstairs area. May well pop back in for an ale next time I�m passing.
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Hope they get some good bottled 'winter warmer' brews in at xmas, 8% abv and above would be nice. A nice example would be some Stingo.
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Why.
anonymous - 21 Oct 2007 16:16 |
Still turning out good beer!
anonymous - 25 Sep 2007 09:51 |
DON"T FORGET! ONE MONTH LEFT ON THE MONEY OFF VOUCHERS
SUPER DUPER INDEED!
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Super duper guest ales are coming in thick and fast; a really fast turnover. Some good food to be had here, very filling.
anonymous - 28 Aug 2007 13:51 |
The vouchers run out on the 30th of September
Efes Turkish Lager �1.49
hurryhurryhurry
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Wetherspoons vouchers run until the 30th sept 50P to a �1 off Carling,Stella,Pedigree,Abbot,and Koppaberg cider,that stuff could be the find of the year(anybody agree!)
Makes a change to have a bar without music "all sounds the bleeding same anyway!!"
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Apart from Pedigree �1.09 a pint,Carling �1.39,Stella �1.99,Efes turkish lager �1.49,Strongbow �1.59 Abbot Ale �1.39!!
Get cutting those tokens out
offer ends september WHOOHOO
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Token tastic!
CARLING �1.39
STRONGBOW �1.59
STELLA �1.99
WOLF BLASS REISLING �5.99 A BOTTLE
Offer ends september
Hurry up !
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Anon -18 July. I agree it's nice to have a bit of background music but I think they did once, didn't they? Trouble is you can't please all the people all the time unless you play boring elevator moozak and then nobody takes any notice.
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As "WORTMAN" says get hold of the Wetherspoons tokens
EFES Turkish lager at �1.49 a bottle,Carling �1.39 a pint Strongbow �1.59 plus the staff don"t mind how many tokens you use in an evening!
HAPPY DAYS ;o()
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.....very lively pub on the weekends,..... prices are really really good,.....
definitely a good place to start on your pub crawl,
Although as they don't (can't) play any music, it doesn't quite have a good enough atmosphere, and the tables for people eating take up most of the pub (as you walk in) so all the drinkers are squashed in front of the bar, so you'll be constantly moving to let people though,
.....in summary,.. great pub to meet in, have a couple and then move on!
anonymous - 18 Jul 2007 11:24 |
Hope everyone's taking advantage of the Wetherspoon's tokens. The lowest price possible surely! Pedigree bitter �1.09 a pint.
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The draught Westons Cider has finished but still available in bottles,So still worth visting apart when the guy in the hi-vis jacket comes in swears at everyone and leaves,mind you he does"nt buy a drink and is soon gone
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The Westons cider is still on!
(who"s the idiot in the high vis jacket comes in swears and leaves?)
Anyway still good beer
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Very hard working staff, always polite and know what is going on even if (female) duty managers dont.
great beer at reasonable price. would vist again keep up the good work barstaff
anonymous - 9 May 2007 11:06 |
Don't know of any other outlet that sells quality draught and botted beers at contending prices.
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Anon - 10 April 2007 16:01. Yes there are some fatties blocking the pumps. Well said!
anonymous - 29 Apr 2007 14:41 |
Went and tried the Weston"s cider having only had it in bottles before.just as good on draught!
Good to see a chain pub give real ale and cider lots of coverage
Although the pub won"t be to everyone"s taste the selection of Beers more than makes up for this!
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I tried a couple of pints of the Weston's Cider. If you are into draught vintage cider then you might like this. It's about 7.5 abv -at the time of writing.
anonymous - 18 Apr 2007 14:41 |
always got some good ales on, from afar as scotland and wales!! make sure you have a couple when you are there as they change them so quickly!!! always busy, roll on july!!!
anonymous - 10 Apr 2007 16:16 |
the staff don't know whos next as all the blokes get their pint and just stand at the small bar so nobody else can get a look in!! be considerate and move away once you have been served. manners cost nothing. you know who you are, stood right in front of the real ale handpulls!! decent pint evertime though. ferrymans is superb.
anonymous - 10 Apr 2007 16:01 |
Spoilt for choice lately.. What with Cains Creamy stout and today Old growler amongst others. Where else can you go to sample so many different guest beers?
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Agree with the previous reviewers, service can be very hit and miss. But a great place to go for a reasonably priced and reasonably drinkable bottle of wine after work. Some of the punters are a bit odd though.
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Service can indeed be a bit iffy - do Weatherspoons teach their staff to LOOK for who is next?? Generally the beer is pretty good & they regularly have beers from the excellent Loddon stable. There are some poor examples of "Duty Managers" in here & I hope when they get a new, full-time manager that things will improve. Waiting for service when 5 of the 6 staff are standing at the end of the bar having a chat is not good.
anonymous - 11 Mar 2007 20:29 |
My opinion of this pub is improving but I will still only come here if it was the only pub open. Yes it is cheap, which I like, but it is also the hardest pub in the world to get a conversation out of the bar staff. Are they robots?
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Been here loads of times as its the cheapest in Basingstoke. Service is up and down, why cant bar staff observe whos next and why cant punters look to see whos in front of them when they go to the bar. Usuall array of down and outs frequenting the bar but otherwise ok.
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Some really good super wheat beers to be had here.
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Had a nice pint of Loddon "Razzle Dazzle" here yesterday,Very Nice.Very Cute lookin Chef too! 7/10
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Liked the draught beer that they had on today, 'Stairway'. Crispy taste, a bit thin on malt I thought but a good hoppy flavour (Goldings?).
Couldn't get served for the first 15 minutes as there was only 1 bar staff on but she did a good considering.
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I would like to argue, but as you are too shy to identify yourselves, I cannot. I visited this place again today and I was pleasently surprised. I was in fact impressed. Of course my last comment was made after a bad experience. I will never say I like this pub but maybe I was a little rash. I do however stand by my previous comments as that is how I found it at the time.
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Sticky tables and rude staff. Just what you want on a night out. Do not even bother going in to this establishment on a Friday or Saturday night as you will feel like a Sardine. No sorry, I think they have more room to move in their tin. If you get served within 15mins you are lucky but then you are made to feel that you are putting them out!! DONT BOTHER
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Quite the worst bar in basingstoke, with the most unfriendley staff, cheap is not everything!
anonymous - 27 Aug 2006 10:14 |
possibly time for new managemment. that female managers still there and the other manager has barred half the population of Basingstoke. Sterile atmosphere, a bit like drinking in John Lewis.
anonymous - 15 Aug 2006 14:01 |
There's been some super ales in here lately; can't remember their names, but,one of them was about 9 abv, which the staff would only let me order in half pints.
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Like any other wetherspoons...except in this one the female manager is extremly rude and innefeciant! she has treated us badly on 3 separarte visits and whilst there you can hear many complaints from people about hergenerall attitude. If the staff were changed thisa would be a very nice place. Won't be going there uagain untill this happens.
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Don't know if this is just the Maidenhead Inn, but there is a 'Monday Club' here, where certain drinks are reduced in price on a Monday. One of them is Strongbow, lowered to �1.69 per pint
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Some good real ales in here at �1.69 a pint. Had a pint of Abbot Ale which was in great condition at the time. At the time of writing children are not allowed in the garden without you buying a meal first but they are allowed in the front bar.
anonymous - 15 Mar 2006 13:03 |
UPDATE: Has improved recently with better service and very well kept beers. Recently there was an offer - all ales �1.59 a pint! Lovely.
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Don't know why people seem to hate this pub so much. It seems like any other Wetherspoons to be honest
Will2 - 13 Aug 2005 15:49 |
Had a rough pint when eventually got served by the indifferent staff who seemed to be having their own party.
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This place has improved vastly over the previous 3 months... the service is amongst the best in Basingstoke - very fast and efficient, and the food and drink both reasonably priced!
Bison - 12 Mar 2005 11:48 |
Service is so variable, and the beer is not always taken off even when completely cloudy. Goodness knows how its got Cask Marque.
Even when the beer is clear it is often too cold, destroying any flavour.
anonymous - 30 Nov 2004 22:10 |
the longest waiting times in the town. Staff just not interested.
ozzer - 2 Jun 2004 08:03 |
This place is terrible. There is a mainly non-smoking policy on the place and smoking is limited to an area in front of the bar which is really small. There is no seating there either. The beers crap the staff are all on sad ego-trips and the place has all the atmosphere of a Kinder egg toy.
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Did have poor service but this has changed. Very good now.
ray west - 12 Jan 2004 17:45 |
This was the original of Basingstoke's two Wetherspoon pubs, located next door to the Hogshead at the 'Top of Town'.
Cheap drinks and food may be the order of the day, but this is by far the worst Wetherspoon's pub I've ever been in. Service is dire - on the few occasions I've ventured in at lunchtime, there have been enormous queues waiting and only one person serving - in fact last time in, no staff appeared in the five minutes before I walked out!
The bar area appears to have been leased by the council for use as a drop in shelter for all those scary old men you normally cross the road to avoid...
Moz - 5 Jan 2004 00:36 |
