Cycle friendly Wetherspoons

[Sweep]

Remembering.

I used to lead a hell of a lot of rides for a London cycling group -usually trips off into the countryside.

I would always reccie the rides, one to check that I wasn't going to get lost, but also to find a good pub stop for lunch. The criteria for this (me being me) was first that they had good beer, then food at a reasonable price or at least with low cost options (as we wanted a broad range of folk on the rides and I wanted to avoid the experience with one fellow leader who once took us to an expensive gastropub with portions than wouldn't fuel a gnat through the afternoon) and - and I now remember using this term at ride planning meetings - that the pub was "cyclist friendly".

This basically meant that the landlords wouldn't get sniffy at our presence and that we had somewhere handy to put the bikes where they would be secure/and or in sight. The ideal was that the pub had an open access garden but other features were also considered friendly - bike secure, bike in sight, willingness of landlord to let us carry the bikes (wheels off floor) through the pub to a rear area. And on that last basis the revered Dog and Bell in Deptford, a pub with no racks at all of its own, was so cycle friendly it was for years used as the basis for many a london cyclist planning and social event.

In fact now as I remember I remember selecting a spoons in Oxted (we rarely went to spoons as our rides were very rural) where we could see the bikes locked to sheffield stands (publicly provided) through the pubs large windows.

Folk were always happy with the pubs I selected on this definition of "cycle friendly".

And my first post made it clear what I considered cycle friendly features.

It seems that instead I should have been sending the friendly landlords close typed questionnaires about their compliance with the 2007 Norfolk Parking Standards. The Dog and Bell would have failed miserably.

And as for the charge that spoons >> instead of endlessly ducking them by taking over old buildings (King's Lynn, Downham Market, ...)

I am at a loss to see how anyone could object to old buildings being kept in use as public facilities.

And thanks mjr for reminding me about Downham Market, for once spring returns I intend, in a friendly kind of way, to pedal off to that nice part of the country. Will of course report back.

[mjr]

And my first post made it clear what I considered cycle friendly features.

And no discussion or dissent is allowed, eh?

It seems that instead I should have been sending the friendly landlords close typed questionnaires about their compliance with the 2007 Norfolk Parking Standards. The Dog and Bell would have failed miserably.

Who needs an quesionnaire if you're visiting? What kind of bonkers bureaucrat would demand that?

Personally, I think country pubs could be held to a lower standard simply because there's a lower risk of bike thieves at them - but interestingly, Norfolk doesn't, so we get good the same great parking at new trip attractors built out in the villages too.

And as for the charge that spoons >> instead of endlessly ducking them by taking over old buildings (King's Lynn, Downham Market, ...)

I am at a loss to see how anyone could object to old buildings being kept in use as public facilities.

Of course that's not the objection!

It's that they're not friendly because they could very cheaply install decent cycle parking voluntarily during their renovations, but I've never seen W do it and because it's an old building, they don't need planning permission and so aren't required to by law. The local ones have yards or gardens, but the gates stay shut - a big locked gate ain't friendly IMO. YMMV. Wetherspoons - doing the bare legal minimum.

[MrsHJ]

Answering Swwep’s questions:

On pay, as I think at least one person has pointed out upthread, it has never been a well paid sector.

I think you declared upthread that him indoors is a publican so you may have a personal angle on this.

Outside London? Yes

In the interests of transparency, can we ask what he pays his bar staff?: Above minimum wage and below living wage. He only can afford one member of staff these days (compared to the fully staffed kitchen and bar of say ten years ago). He currently earns below minimum Wage. He doesn’t share his political views in the pub and does not place literature in the pub (he’s a Labour Party Member). Nor does he expect his staff to either agree with him or to publicise any political matters.

And by the by, for my initial post made clear the reasons for my appreciation of them, what is his attitude to folks wandering in and plugging stuff into the sockets? : Fine if you are a customer. Loos also fine if you ask whether or not a customer. Bikes can go in the garage at the back as the pub lets straight onto the road

Does he have clearly visible free access water dispensers on the bar? : Not sure what clearly accessible means (as most pubs don’t have american style ice and water dispensers) but he’ll fill any bidons and provide iced tap water as required.

Is it a tied brewery house or a genuinely (and I stress that word) free house?: Genuinely free house, owned by him and his family since the mid eighties, and up for sale if you are interested. Annual winners of the local flower display award but the building is eitheenth century and listed and needs work.

As for chains, the brewery chains came close, amongst many misdeeds, to having a very good go at killing the British pub and the beer within them: Indeed- his has been listed in CAMRA (his beer standards are very high but stopped being listed when he stopped rotating the beers - basically as the customer base has declined he has narrowed what he serves to manage the inventory), also listed in one of the French guides- I think the routard.

For it was no golden (ale) age: Interesting-camra helped but broadly the beer regs didn’t. A lot of breweries haven’t done brilliantly by their tenants (although some are good). There has been a big change in lifestyles and incomes recently meaning that the mid market pub is really struggling. Ideally someone will turn this one back into a hotel as it used to be (it’s a listed town house style pub) as I think him indoors has lost the energy to do it. The pub does really home made food, has excellent, well kept and local beer, a log fire and no political agenda and due to the interests of the landlord a good wine list.

[Bmblbzzz]

No, they dont apply in Berkshire

Of course, which is why they don't. But if the business was "cycle friendly", they'd surely meet such a minor standard for cycle parking without being forced to.

ALL of these pubs are located straight onto the pavement. There simply isnt room to put in cycle racks outside, its a common problem and applies to many other similarly situated pubs too. I always ask to be allowed to park my bike safely inside and the answer has always been yes. Thats why I regard all our local Wetherspoons as cycle friendly. With other local pubs being small and pokey I dont think I would get such positive cycle friendly treatment. Perhaps its a directive from Tim at the top. He seems to have created a vast chain of profitable pubs with a winning formula?

Al

Arguably they meet 5 of the 9 location requirements by simply being inside the pub building: near to entrance, weather protection, visible and attractive, passing surveillance, well lit. Probably many 'Spoons have CCTV too.

[al_yrpal]

Interesting article on Tim the guvnor of Wetherspoons in todays Sunday Times. Walks a lot a drives a 7 year old Volvo, holdays in the Scillies and enjoys a pint and a newspaper in a non Wetherspoons pub. Claims to have quite simple tastes in spite of his wealth.

Al

[Sweep]

Thanks for your honest replies up above MrsHJ.

Though as you - very honestly and I give you credit - highlight the spoons activists (and I wish them well) would have issue with your partner on the wages so I am a bit bemused by your upthread posting on the activists point on wages.

I saw your other post which you deleted and I totally understand why you did - and empathise.

Very tough for pubs the last few years - a fair few of the nice pubs I used to lead riders to have gone.

Though I must say that I don't think spoons can be blamed for this situation - several other factors which I am sure I don't need to tell you about.

all the best

sweep

[Mick F]

I mentioned Wetherspoon's Plymouth a few times on this thread, and how you can lean your bike against the floor-to-ceiling glass doors. There's only one door that's ever used, so there's plenty space.
You can sit inside and eat and drink, and keep an eye on your bike at the same time. You can also use the Wetherspoon app to order, so you don't have to even go to the bar.

This was Moulton yesterday afternoon outside sheltered from the incessant English rain.
I'd taken my saddle bag in with me as well as my Garmin Montana. The only door of the three that's used, is well off the shot to to left.

[Sweep]

Like it mick.

I have a preference for the more characterful ones/conversions from old buildings, but some of the modern glass fronted ones do as you point out have their practical uses.

What's with the only one door used thing?

Have you tried to discretely bring the bike inside?

Have only ever done once (see bury above) and never assume I can, though as I may have mentioned I was invited to bring the exped tourer into the ramsgate one by a nice staff member on the door.

By chance today am off to meet a unnnamed forum member in an unnamed spoons for a natter over a few coffee refills.

With use made of power sockets possibly.

[Mick F]

The glass doors etc are right across the rear of the building overlooking the paved garden. There are three double spring-loaded doors but only the left-hand one (as you look outwards) is used. The other two are locked.
Note the big plant pot, and the table in the distance in the way of the doors.
The opening door is at the bar end. It could possibly have something to do with CCTV. The loos are at that end too.

Usually, the garden is full of people, but as it was chucking it down, only the hardy smokers were venturing out! The inside areas were packed.

Not tried bringing the bike in. I would imagine it would be in the way considering the layout, but there's no point. The bike isn't vulnerable to being nicked and run away with and anyway, as soon as I would see anyone suspicious, I'd be out like a shot. Actually this is contrary to my experience, as all people want to do is chat about the bike, and yesterday was no exception.

Nowhere to safely leave a bike out the front.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.36979 ... 312!8i6656

The building used to be a car dealers. Rootes Group when we first went there with my Hillman Hunter and both our Hillman Imps. Later, it became a BMW dealer.
There was an entrance at the rear - where the garden is now, and you went up a spiral ramp up to the upper showroom and the parts department. Downstairs at ground level, they had the main showroom and the servicing department.

[PH]

The bike isn't vulnerable to being nicked and run away with and anyway, as soon as I would see anyone suspicious, I'd be out like a shot. Actually this is contrary to my experience, as all people want to do is chat about the bike, and yesterday was no exception.

You're a braver man than me, I've heard a few examples of bikes being stolen in plain sight, these people have no fear of being seen.

[pete75]

It's that they're not friendly because they could very cheaply install decent cycle parking voluntarily during their renovations, but I've never seen W do it and because it's an old building, they don't need planning permission and so aren't required to. The local ones have yards or gardens, but the gates stay shut - a big locked gate ain't friendly IMO. YMMV. Wetherspoons - doing the bare legal minimum.

If you fit a kickstand to your bike you can park it anywhere otherwise just lean it against a wall. Bikes don't take up much room so you can "park" them almost anywhere.

[mjr]

It's that they're not friendly because they could very cheaply install decent cycle parking voluntarily during their renovations, but I've never seen W do it and because it's an old building, they don't need planning permission and so aren't required to. The local ones have yards or gardens, but the gates stay shut - a big locked gate ain't friendly IMO. YMMV. Wetherspoons - doing the bare legal minimum.

If you fit a kickstand to your bike you can park it anywhere otherwise just lean it against a wall. Bikes don't take up much room so you can "park" them almost anywhere.

And lock to...?

[Mick F]

The bike isn't vulnerable to being nicked and run away with and anyway, as soon as I would see anyone suspicious, I'd be out like a shot. Actually this is contrary to my experience, as all people want to do is chat about the bike, and yesterday was no exception.

You're a braver man than me, I've heard a few examples of bikes being stolen in plain sight, these people have no fear of being seen.

They could try, but in order to get the bike off and away, they'd have to weave in and out of the outside furniture.

It isn't visible from the pavement, and the entrance to the rear area isn't on a regular thoroughfare so you wouldn't get cycle thieves passing by. There is easier meat in the middle of the town or at the railway station.

I have no concern ............ providing I can see it at all times.

[Sweep]

many thanks for your posts on this thread (and others) mick, but I think I would at least use a cafe lock.

Otherwise, if the worst should happen, someone will be using it as a stick to beat spoons and their cientele - and you will have lost/be chasing a very nice bike.

Thanks again for info on Plymouth one - definitely doesn't look promising from the front - on my list for when I get down that way.

[pete75]

It's that they're not friendly because they could very cheaply install decent cycle parking voluntarily during their renovations, but I've never seen W do it and because it's an old building, they don't need planning permission and so aren't required to. The local ones have yards or gardens, but the gates stay shut - a big locked gate ain't friendly IMO. YMMV. Wetherspoons - doing the bare legal minimum.

If you fit a kickstand to your bike you can park it anywhere otherwise just lean it against a wall. Bikes don't take up much room so you can "park" them almost anywhere.

And lock to...?

I don't usually use a lock. I'll admit it is a problem for folk paranoid about crime though.