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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Entertainment
Peter Hennessy

Best and worst Wetherspoon pubs in Nottingham according to Tripadvisor

For those who love Wetherspoon restaurants, there are plenty of options to choose from across the city. If you're looking to head out and about and enjoy a drink or a bite to eat you may want to know which of these are the most popular with visitors.

Tripadvisor includes ratings and reviews from customers across the years and compiles data on every restaurant based on this feedback. We're looking at those in the city of Nottingham - so favourites such as the Trent Bridge Inn, on the edge of the cricket ground in West Bridgford, aren't included in this list.

The popular chain does split opinion, with others preferring to go to more independent outlets, while others love to eat or drink in 'Spoons' on a regular basis. Here is a rundown of how the Wetherspoon restaurants across the city rank among the 194 'quick bite' places to eat in Nottingham.

Diners excited as village pub confirms 'fabulous' takeover - read more here.

The Roebuck Inn - 44th

The Roebuck Inn is popular as it is located just off Old Market Square, on St James' Street. It gets a 3.5 rating from its visitors - it is best rated for its value, at 4.5/5. It gets four out of five for its food, service and atmosphere, meanwhile.

The most recent five-star review stated: "Love the look of this pub, set over two floors, multi-roomed, typical Wetherspoon decor and furnishings, a solid wood serving bar dominates the main room, there's lots of seating options spread throughout this pub, all in all, it's a great Wetherspoon pub I always look forward to visiting."

Not everyone was happy, however, with one reviewer saying: "Went for a quick lunch with some uni friends, ordered our food and drinks on the app. Food comes after 20 minutes, takes another 10 minutes for the drinks to come. Also, all the empty tables had people's finished meals there, we had to clear some out the way to find a table. They need to hire more staff for lunchtime."

The Gooseberry Bush - 74th

The Gooseberry Bush is a popular watering hole for those near Nottingham Trent University, located on Peel Street. It received four out five for service, value and atmosphere and 3.5 for its food.

A five-out-of-five reviewer wrote: "Great pub, fantastic prices. Very busy. One of my favourite places in Nottingham. Well done to all the staff. They all work really hard and are on the go constantly, very quick service."

One unhappy customer wrote: "App not working to order food or drinks - no QR code or tables numbered correctly. We were sat there for 10 minutes and couldn’t get a drink or food, no bar service."

The Samuel Hall - 95th

A view of The Samuel Hall Weatherspoons in Mansfield Road, Sherwood, Nottingham (Joseph Raynor/ Nottingham Post)

The Samuel Hall is one of the city's most unique Wetherspoon restaurants - found in an old bus depot in Mansfield Road in Sherwood. It gets two four out of five ratings - for value and atmosphere - and two 3.5 ratings for food and service.

One reviewer thought it was excellent, writing afterwards on Tripadvisor: "A large Wetherspoons, set over two floors on a main road out of Nottingham. A good atmosphere, with friendly efficient staff. An interesting building, well decorated with local information and history. Great menu and great value. Well worth a visit."

Someone else wasn't quite as impressed, however, writing: "This Weatherspoons pub is pretty local to me and I've frequented it on quiet a few occaisions, mainley for breakfasts. On the past 3 occaisions I've attended I have been very disappointed by them to deliver the food that's on the menu."

Lloyd's No1 Bar - 110th

Lloyd's, located in Carlton Street in Hockley, is popular with revellers looking for a drink late into the night. Located right in the city centre, it is conveniently placed for all those wanting a drink after work or whoever wants to go on a bit of a bar crawl in Nottingham.

Lloyd's No1 Bar has a 3.5 rating on TripAdvisor - 3.5 for service and food, while it gets 4/5 for both value and atmosphere. One visitor, who gave Lloyd's five stars, wrote: "Housed in a former bank this is a massive pub on Carlton street with ground and first floor seating options and a superb beer garden. With plenty of interesting features throughout the whole interior relating to this building and the area, this superb pub is situated in.

"We visited here several times during our five day city break to Nottingham and on every occasion, we had meals and drinks here which were always perfectly served and priced."

However, a one star review posted in January this year stated: "I used to not mind this place for a couple of swift drinks, but on my last visit it was at an all time low. Tables left unclean and uncleared, drunken louts swearing, shouting and generally being intimidating (begs the question why the staff continue to serve them) and generally just an unpleasant atmosphere."

The Joseph Else - 117th

Joseph Else Wetherspoons in Nottingham City Centre (Nottingham Post)

The Joseph Else is another city centre spoons which is not rated especially highly on Tripadvisor. It also has a 3.5 out of five rating, earning 3.5 for atmosphere, food and service and four for its value. Its located in Old Market Square, so is very well-used from those in the city centre.

A five-star reviewer said: "Went here with some old friends for a catch up. The food was excellent very basic fish chips and peas but the absolute best in terms of quality and taste. I have eaten here quite a bit and never been disappointed: everything is top notch."

One person, leaving one star, wrote: "How can you mess up a simple classic burger with chips? Apparently with great ease. We visited today and ordered some food. Then we waited. Then we waited some more. Eventually arrived. Burgers were cold and charcoal coloured. Chips were like molten lava."

The Woodthorpe Top - 136th

The Woodthorpe Top in Mapperley is not one of the most popular places to eat you can find in Nottingham. It is only given a three out of five overall rating and finds itself near the bottom of the rankings.

One visitor who went while coronavirus restrictions were in place was impressed with the venue, however. They said: "This was well organised during Covid. Had to queue outside until there was a free table which I liked. The staff were friendly, quick service and great Wetherspoons food. Only downside was they had run out of ketchup and there was no desserts available."

Rating it as terrible, another customer wrote: "Every time I have been at this place, there has always been something missing. Last time there were no chips I almost wanted to nip to Tesco’s and buy you some oven chips! The time before that there were no fish even though it was FISH FRIDAY and many other things have happened while I have been here."

The William Peveril - 154th

The William Peveril is ranked 154th on Tripadvisor and can be found on Main Street in Bulwell. Its atmosphere gets three out of five, food and service gets 3.5 and value gets a four rating.

One of its best reviews states: "Breakfast visit with the family - our first to this Spoons. Interesting building and interior. Was really busy so couldn't really appreciate it properly so will have to revisit.

"Ordered on the app, food arrived quickly and was very tasty, the usual high standard from Wetherspoons (not had a bad meal from any yet). Well worth a look if you're in the vicinity."

However, a negative review says: "It pains me to give this place 1 star as when it first opened it was the best Wetherspoon in Nottingham. I have had many lovely meals here but sadly it has really deteriorated. We have visited 4 times this month with my Granddaughter and each time the place is just so dirty."

The Free Man - unranked

The Free Man in Carlton doesn't get a ranking because it is not classed as a quick bite on Tripadvisor - unlike its counterparts in the city. In terms of overall restaurants in Nottingham, it comes in at 570th out of 914 - and it is ranked as the 15th steakhouse out of 18 in the city.

It gets a four out of five rating for its food, value and atmosphere. One visitor gave it the best rating possible and wrote: A first visit when passing through the area. Really like the decor (including lovely Christmas decs) and the staff were friendly throughout our visit.

We had a delicious veggie breakfast which definitely hit the spot on a chilly day plus it arrived quickly and with a smile. I will definitely revisit - lots more photos on the wall we didn't get chance to see properly. Thumbs up all round!"

One of its five one star reviews states: "Couldn’t fault the service, the ladies were lovely and professional. The food on the other hand was appalling, hair in one meal which was replaced, but when it came back was still bland, unflavoursome, the rice tasted bland too. The beans on the kids jacket potato were practically non existant, could count the amount on both hands."

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