A number of hilarious Tripadvisor reviews help rank some of the best and worst Wetherspoon pubs in one of the country’s most popular hotspots of Devon.
By summer last year, the Wetherspoon chain had 925 pubs in the UK and Brits could expect a similar outing to anyone of the chains.
Or so they might think.
Brilliant Tripadvisor reviews left across a number of the chain’s pubs in Devon have helped rank the hotspots pubs.
They show that the chain is far from uniform with some pubs hitting cold and others falling short.
And with most of the coldest months behind Brits, many will be looking ahead towards the holidays and Devon will be the final location of domestic holidaymakers.
And given the country’s love for a cold pint on a hot day, DevonLive have ranked five of the county’s best and five of its worst pubs, as rated by Tripadvisor reviewers.
Leading the way
1. The Admiral Collingwood, Ilfracombe
4 stars based on 1,548 reviews:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Value: 4.5
Atmosphere: 3.5
The majority of reviewers – 667 of them – gave this pub the maximum five stars.
They were impressed with the sea views; friendly, polite and hard-working staff; and perfectly served food and drink.
In fact, one reviewer said: “We went back the next night as we were so impressed.”
2. The Imperial, Exeter
4 stars based on 808 reviews:
Food: 3.5
Service: 4
Value: 4.5
Atmosphere: 4
Most reviewers – 303 – gave “the Impy” four stars.
Many commented that this Wetherspoons is a big, impressive building, particularly in the orangery section – and it’s also very popular with students, which is no surprise given its proximity to the university.
One reviewer said “Better service than some expensive restaurants” – but others had a different view so it obviously depends on how busy it is at the time of the visit.
3. The Vigilance, Brixham
4 stars based on 402 reviews:
Food: 4
Service: 4
Value: 4.5
Atmosphere: 4
Impressively scoring not less than four in any category, there was an almost identical number of reviewers giving one of Spoons’ smaller sites The Vigilance five stars and four (151/150).
Most of the praise was for the service (“service very quick, staff very friendly”) and great value.
4. Talk of the Town, Paignton
3.5 stars based on 1,400 reviews:
Food: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3.5
Getting the second-highest number of reviews in total, most reviewers (421) rated this Wetherspoons ‘excellent’.
The staff were described as hard-working and professional, “doing their best” when the pub was packed full and they were “rushed off their feet”.
5. Green Ginger, Torquay
3.5 stars based on 1,115 reviews:
Food: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3
The Spoons with the third-highest number of reviews in total, Green Ginger had most reviewers (297) giving it four stars.
One reviewer said: “You can’t go wrong at a Wetherspoons.” The “fantastic value” was the highlight for most reviewers.
Needing to improve
1. The Union Rooms, Plymouth
3 stars based on 718 reviews:
Food: 3
Service: 3
Value: 3.5
Atmosphere: 3
This Spoons got far more one-star ratings (218) than any other rating.
One reviewer was served the “worst food ever” and was not even able to choose how they wanted their steak cooked.
Many complained about the awful smell of vomit and “questionable stains”.
The “rude” staff had “zero customer service skills” and one reviewer said it was “the worst Spoons I’ve ever visited.”
2. The Chevalier Inn, Exeter
3 stars based on 390 reviews:
Food: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Although Exeter has one of the best-rated Spoons in Devon, it also has one of the worst. Most reviewers (109) gave “The Chev” one star.
Staff were described as “rude” and “miserable”, and the service was “glacial”.
One review was summed up: “Don’t bother.”
3. The Stannary Court, Plympton
3 stars based on 548 reviews:
Food: 3
Service: 3
Value: 3.5
Atmosphere: 4
The number of people giving this Spoons four stars and one star was almost the same (134/131).
Reviewers noted the sticky tables and menus, tables left uncleared and a lack of customer service.
One reviewer summed it up: “Just no.”
4. The Richard Hopkins, Newton Abbot
3 stars based on 397 reviews:
Food: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3.5
The majority of reviewers (123) gave this Spoons four stars – but 77 only gave it one star.
Cleanliness was a big factor, with one reviewer writing: “I’ve never been in such a disgusting pub in my life.”
The food also disappointed many. One reviewer said they were “amazed how anybody can get a jacket potato so wrong, but they managed it.”
5. The White Ball Inn, Tiverton
3 stars based on 234 reviews:
Food: 3.5
Service: 3.5
Value: 4
Atmosphere: 3
Most reviewers (77) gave the White Ball four stars, but unfortunately 49 rated it ‘terrible’.
Food was described as “burnt”, “overcooked”, “raw”, and one reviewer was served “quite possibly the worst steak I have ever eaten.”
These were the only five Wetherspoon pubs in Devon to get an overall rating of just three out of five.
