Determined to see why one of his local Wetherspoons branches had been ranked "terrible" by one in six Tripadvisor users, a man decided to give it a try himself to see what all the fuss was about.
According to the popular site, The Gatekeeper is currently among the most poorly rated Wetherspoons in Cardiff, which boasts eight branches in total.
The pub has been blasted by some critical reviewers on Tripadvisor as "horrendous" and "appalling", with one even declaring it to be the "worst Wetherspoons ever".
Others in turn have slammed the "unprofessional staff", the "lack of burgers", "noisy children", and the lager they claim "tasted like a combination of cider and cat p***".
In a piece penned for Wales Online, reporter John Jones decided to pay a visit to The Gatekeeper, which is situated in an old Victorian theatre.
John, who visited on a Wednesday evening, was instantly struck by the "enormous" space, and while the pub wasn't exactly packed, he found there was "a nice buzz about the place".
After settling himself at a "spotlessly clean" table, John headed to the bar, where he treated himself to a pint of Guinness for £3.75.
Although he noted that this was "extortionate by 'Spoons standards", John clarified that this was still cheaper than the majority of establishments in Cardiff. He was also impressed by the "decent pour", and the "friendly chat" he enjoyed with the barman.
While "perusing a slightly stained menu" for food options, John remarked that the recent price hike was indeed noticeable, with some of the meals rising by as much as 7.5 percent. This included fish and chips for £10.43, steak for £14.08, and a three small plates deal for £16.93.
Although John admitted these prices did look a "bit weird", the food still appeared to be quite good value for money, and he eventually settled on a Tennessee buttermilk chicken burger from the "gourmet burgers" range.
With a second pint included, this came to £11.67, which John regarded as "another skewiff price but not one that was particularly breaking the bank".
John concluded: "Was it worth it? Well, yes. I didn't have any great expectations and it wasn't the best meal I'd ever had, but especially considering the price and speed of service, it was a damn good burger.
"The buttermilk batter was crispy and flavoursome, while the chicken itself was well cooked but still juicy and tender. The accompanying bacon was a little brittle but provided a good level of saltiness, while the bun was soft and soaked up the smoky Jack Daniels barbecue dipping sauce which I applied liberally to the burger."
Addressing "followers of the Wetherspoons Chip Count movement", John reported that he received 15 fluffy chips, which was not as many as he would have liked, but a "decent showing" nonetheless. Meanwhile, the onion rings, were nicely crisp, if a little oily.
John added: "It wasn't particularly memorable, but it was exactly what I came for, a spot of tasty grub. After polishing off the burger, I talked with friends for the next hour or so over a few more pints, all the while wondering if those who had left those damning reviews had been talking about a different pub to the unexpectedly charming one I found myself sitting in.
"So there you go, I went there expecting mediocrity, and I got it. Classic 'Spoons, you could say. It's nothing special, it's not even that good. But it's (still) cheap, cheerful, and does the job, and it certainly isn't 'horrendous' or 'appalling' as others have said."
The Mirror has reached out to JD Wetherspoon for comment.
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