10 iconic Wetherspoons pubs you need to visit
Forget the cheap pints and laminated menus for a moment. Certain Wetherspoons pubs have architectural heft, social significance and even the odd whiff of glamour. db finds out more.
Wetherspoons has long been a lightning rod for debate: cheap and cheerful stalwart or soulless chain interloper. Yet beyond the refillable coffees and mixed grills, some outlets are quietly safeguarding slices of British heritage. A study by CryptoCasinos has identified ten pubs that stand out not for their bargain prices, but for their brick-and-mortar and atmosphere.
Blackpool’s Velvet Coaster
If Blackpool is Britain’s playground, the Velvet Coaster is its largest soft play for grown-ups. The pub occupies a vast former cinema and ballroom close to the Pleasure Beach. Ceiling heights verge on the ecclesiastical, while original mirrors and plasterwork add a touch of Blackpool glitz.
Harrogate’s Winter Gardens
The Winter Gardens in Harrogate, once a theatre, now marries marble, glass and fry-ups. Regulars rave about the breakfast menu, while architecture fans come for the staircase alone. It is one of those places where you can sip a latte and feel like a minor Victorian dignitary.
Edinburgh’s Standing Order
Originally a financial fortress, the Standing Order just off St Andrew’s Square still flaunts its vault doors. Ornate ceilings and wood panelling give it the air of a country estate, albeit one serving curry club. Tourists and office workers mingle under chandeliers once reserved for the guardians of Edinburgh’s wealth.
Exeter’s Imperial
The Imperial, partly housed in an orangery designed by Brunel, offers panoramic views over Exeter’s hills. The arches and natural light are as appealing to Instagrammers as the pints are to students. A pub where civil engineering meets civilised drinking.
Whitstable’s Peter Cushing
Named for the horror film star, the Peter Cushing trades in nostalgia. Art Deco fittings, vintage lighting and proximity to the sea create a stage set in which ordering a pint feels like entering a black-and-white film.
Partner Content
London’s Liberty Bounds
Few pubs can claim a backdrop of both Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. The Liberty Bounds manages to combine postcard views with Wetherspoons prices. It remains bustling but not unbearable, proving that history and hospitality can share a pint without clashing.
Shotton’s Central Hotel
The Central Hotel doubles as a pub with beds upstairs. Think hearty breakfasts, friendly bar and the occasional snooker crowd. It is a rare hybrid that feels less like a corporate experiment and more like a practical extension of the community.
Wrexham’s Elihu Yale
Named after the benefactor of Yale University, this Wrexham pub honours its namesake while dishing up reliable breakfasts and dinners. Expanded menus and heritage touches make it a favourite with locals.
Ilfracombe’s Admiral Collingwood
Overlooking the North Devon coast, the Admiral Collingwood serves up sea views and big breakfasts. Holidaymakers and locals alike appreciate its breezy charm. A Wetherspoons where you half expect the seagulls to join the loyalty scheme.
Prestwick’s Pioneer
The Prestwick Pioneer is less about architecture and more about atmosphere. Clean, bustling and staffed by those who know the regulars, it exemplifies the chain’s knack for community. No frills, but plenty of familiarity.
Why these pubs matter
The top ten are reminders that Wetherspoons is not merely about affordable food and drink. Many are housed in reimagined theatres, banks or coastal institutions. They reveal how even a national chain can preserve local character while serving up its trademark cut-price pints.
Related news
Greene King pubs gain ‘digital upgrade’
Calls mount to let Scottish pubs screen late-night World Cup matches
