please note - reviews on this site are purely the opinion of site visitors, so don't take them too seriously.
Large ex Church of England chapel converted into a double level Weatherspoon’s.
Dropped in for a quick pint on a recent Saturday morning for only my 2nd visit here, it was already busy at 11.30am with several of the punters looking a bit worse for wear already!
A few decent ales on the pumps, I had a pint of the local G2 Brewing’s Southern Cross @ 4.8%.
Nice building, plenty of space but still the standard ‘spoons.
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I've used this pub quite a lot over the past year when visiting Folkestone but am reluctant to return now after my last visit, I know you take a chance with spoons but I've found this one really good lately, but my last visit was just appalling, we ordered food which seemed to take ages to arrive, when it did it was stone cold rubbish, when i complained I was offered a free coffee which I declined, the food wasn't just poor, it was awful, and there is simply no excuse for such poor service, i don't go to spoons expecting Micheline star cuisine, but this had to be seen to be believed, 0 out of 10 is generous in this case
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Has been redecorated outside since I was last in. The beers were all ok and although a bit flat for my liking, they all tasted ok. Staff seem ok, some regular drinkers in, but all seemed friendly. An unusual place inside and out, much cheaper in here than other bars in Folkestone. No beer garden or car park.
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This building is as grand as they come for a public house, now I know that J D Wetherspoons invest in grand old buildings that have seen better days and turn them into community pubs and meeting points but this is the grandest I have ever visited under their banner, it's a real stunner internally and externally.
This lovely building used to be a Baptist church, and still has that church feel, as well as having heaps of character it's a very imposing place
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good selection of ales, of which I've never had a bad one, lovely old building, staff always seem helpful enough, I've never had any trouble getting served, I've not had a main meal in here for a couple of years but that was always a bit hit and miss, but I've had a couple of really good breakfasts in here recently, it's not The British Lion, but well worth a visit especially if your on a budget
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There's two ways of looking at this pub. One can take the traditional method of dismissing it entirely out of hand simply because it's a Wetherspoons, and everyone knows that Wetherspoons are totally crap.
Or one might actually go into the place and try the food and beer and find that one might be mistaken in one's preconceptions.
I won't say it's the best pub in Folkestone, because it isn't. But it is far from being the worst.
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Agree with the previous comment. Lovely building over two floors with an amazing interior feat large chandarliers,stained glass etc.Fast service and a good range of guest ales,definately in the top 10% of spoons pubs i would say, 8/10
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Love this pub, and tell people about it. Fantastic place. A cathedral to beer!
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After reading some of the dreadful reviews posted previously I thought I would try the pub out of curiosity just because I was visiting Folkestone. We visited in late afternoon in October.
The building is fantastic and worth visiting for itself. The pub wasn't very busy with about half of the booths downstairs being occupied by someone or other and the same upstairs, the clientel was perhaps a little better than many other JDWs we have visited. Neither my wife nor I felt threatened or uncomfortable. As for the beer the Ruddles and Dog Boulter were both well kept and in good condition.
So for a daytime drink I reckon it's worth a six and I'd be happy to return
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As previously stated this is a JDW built inside an old church so is a bit quirky. An impressive building which was unfortunately not matched by the beers on offer. Our hearts dropped to see just Abbot, Pedigree and Ruddles on but we did then find a Titanic White Star round the other side of the bar. Unfortunately that had gone by the next day when at one stage they were down to just Ruddles. I was pleased to see the 'Hymns' and 'Hyrs' hymn boards still sitting outside the toilets.
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Yet again, weatherspoons has managed to take good beer and ruin it. If I wanted something freezing cold I'd drink cider.
Fully agree with 5thearlofWimbourne's comments about turd-polishing.
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always been very quite for a spoons establishment,which means you dont have to fight some one to get a drink, the beers are o.k.and although i havn't been in for about a year,the food was allways a let down
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Now named The Samuel Peto, after the constructor of some of London's most prestigious buildings, including Nelson's Column, who then went on to become one of the major contractors in the burgeoning railway industry.
This does not alter the fact that this is a "Spoons" and that you cannot polish a turd!
Score as previous comment.
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A fantastic building, as previous posters have commented. A friend was recently the victim of a pickpocket and had his wallet lifted here, so wtch out for the less salubrious types that tend to frequent "Spoons".
At the end of the day, you can gold plate it and encrust it with diamonds, but a turd is still a turd.
3/10.
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This pub has been awarded "Cask Marque" status, I'm not sure why, the Real Ale was served far too cold and was not in very good condition
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PUB RENAMED! now called The Samual Peto!
anonymous - 23 Oct 2006 15:57 |
No atmosphere in here, too big!!!
Skinner - 14 Oct 2004 11:43 |
the church conversion has been made to perfction but but unfortunatley the designers never thought of the customers.the toilets are situated at the very bottom level, which means if you have children with you they have to be on the higher level you have to climb up and down endless stair cases just to use it.the food i found very dissapointing for this venue and had to wait for some time.the staff were very pleasent and the place was nice and clean.its just a shame witherspoons allow not even light music to accompany their pubs.
sam - 13 Oct 2004 14:24 |
I almost didn't find this pub but when I did I was glad I persevered as it's a really impressive church conversion. On entering you are faced with a double iron staircase which leads up to a galleried area with drinking booths looking down on the main bar. In each corner of the main bar are raised areas with armchairs and bookcases for a comfortable homely feel. There is a small horseshoe bar, above which the old church organ can be seen. Original statues and features of the church have been retained and the whole thing is rounded off by "Hymns" and "Hyrs" hymn boards outside the toilets. Bit of a shame they couldn't come up with a more original name for the pub. Has to be the best church/pub conversion I have seen since Frankensteins in Edinburgh (q.v.).
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